ALLIGATOR WEED (ALTERNANTHERA PHILOXEROIDES) A POTENTIAL INVADER IN GHARANA WETLAND JAMMU, J&K, INDIA RUPINDERKOUR*
Alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb (Amaranthaceae) is a noxious invasive weed native of Trop. America and widespread throughout the world. Because of its invasiveness, potential for spread and economic and environmental impacts it is a weed of national significance. It is an especially troublesome weed because it invades both land and water, and is very hard to control. When growing on land it displaces other more favourable plants such as crops or native vegetation, and can be harmful to animals. The present study deals with the first time report on the presence and impacts of A.philoxeroides in Gharana wetland reserve of Jammu region which is an important wetland reserve and serves as wintering ground for large number of migratory water birds during their palaearctic to oriental migration.
Importance of namarupavigyana is a basic need of practitioners to identify the exact drug or plant, they should be very selective and accurate to about the plant nama and rupa. In this universe every object has a specific name through which it is identified. Without this we can't introduce anything to anybody. nama and rupa are linked with each other like word and its meaning in order to distinguish objects. The synonymous word in ayurveda for drug identification is "Namarupagyana" which includes name and features and properties and action of the drug.