Morphological Variation, Allelopathic Effects and Phytochemical Screening of Different Flower-Colour Varieties of Lantana Camara L.

Abstract Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae) is a widely distributed invasive shrub that exhibits conspicuous variation in flower colour and contains diverse secondary metabolites. The present study documented morphological differences among six flower-colour forms of L. camara and examined the effects of their leaf aqueous leachates on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed germination and early seedling growth. The study also carried out qualitative phytochemical screening of methanolic leaf extracts. Six forms—multicolour, yellow, red, orange, purple and white—were collected from locations in and around Kashti, Maharashtra. Morphological observations showed variation in branch texture and stem and leaf indumentum, while all forms had quadrangular stems and glandular hairs. In the wheat bioassay reported at 3% leachate concentration, germination ranged from 77% to 93% among the Lantana treatments, compared with 100% in the control. Shoot and root growth were reduced in all treatments relative to the control, with the orange-flowered form showing the lowest reported shoot and root lengths. Qualitative screening detected alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins and tannins in all six forms; steroids, quinone and anthraquinone were recorded as absent. The findings indicate variation among flower-colour forms in morphology and in the measured allelopathic response, and support further standardized quantitative investigation. The study is limited by incomplete reporting of experimental units, statistical procedures and some methodological details.