Q. What is "Mikania micrantha", recently mentioned in news?
Answer:
Invasive weed
Notes: Mikania micrantha, an invasive weed, is rapidly spreading in Bhadra Tiger Reserve, threatening its biodiversity. It is a perennial, fast-growing climber native to Central and South America. Mikania is invasive in Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific Islands. Introduced in India in the 1940s for tea plantations, it now poses a serious threat to crops and forests. It thrives in areas with high fertility, moisture, and humidity. Mikania kills other plants by blocking light and smothering them. It produces chemicals that inhibit plant growth and spreads quickly through wind-dispersed seeds and roots.