A Review on the Ecology of the Noxious Weed Parthenium hysterophorus

Parthenium hysterophorus L. is one of the world?s most invasive weeds, posing severe ecological, agricultural, and health challenges. Native to the tropical Americas, it has rapidly expanded across Asia, Africa, and Australia through accidental introduction and natural dispersal mechanisms. Its success as an invader stems from high phenotypic plasticity, prolific seed production, allelopathic compounds, and broad environmental tolerance. Parthenium disrupts native plant communities, modifies soil microbial assemblages, lowers crop yields, and provokes severe health issues in humans and livestock. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the weed?s ecology, distribution, physiological traits, impacts, and management strategies, highlighting critical research gaps and proposing integrated, ecologically informed management approaches.