Lantana camara, also known as
Spanish Flag, is native to tropical regions in Central and South America.
Lantana camara has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant, it is considered an invasive species in many tropical areas.
It is sometimes known as
"red (yellow, wild) sage", despite its classification in a separate family to
sageSalvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with approximately 900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. It is one of three genera commonly referred to as sage. When used without modifiers, sage generally refers to Salvia officinalis ; however, it can be...
(Lamiaceae), and a different order to
sagebrushSagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
(Asterales).
Lantana camara has become naturalized in tropical and warm regions worldwide.
Lantana camara, also known as
Spanish Flag, is native to tropical regions in Central and South America.
Lantana camara has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant, it is considered an invasive species in many tropical areas.
It is sometimes known as
"red (yellow, wild) sage", despite its classification in a separate family to
sageSalvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with approximately 900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. It is one of three genera commonly referred to as sage. When used without modifiers, sage generally refers to Salvia officinalis ; however, it can be...
(Lamiaceae), and a different order to
sagebrushSagebrush is a common name of a number of shrubby plant species in the genus Artemisia native to western North America;Or, the sagebrush steppe ecoregion, having one or more kinds of sagebrush, bunchgrasses and others;...
(Asterales).
Naturalization
Lantana camara has become naturalized in tropical and warm regions worldwide. In the Kenyan highlands it grows in many areas that receive even minimal amounts of rainfall. It can be seen in the wild and along footpaths, deserted fields, and farms. Lantana has been naturalized in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, particularly in the Atlantic coastal plains, from
FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
to
GeorgiaGeorgia is a state in the United States. One of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution, it had been the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established, in 1733. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January...
, where the climate is close to its native climate, with high heat and humidity.
Domestication
Lantana has become popular in gardens, for its hardy nature. It is not affected by pests or disease, has low water requirements, and handles extreme heat. It is a favorite species of butterflies, and used in butterfly gardens in the United States.
Ecological impact
L. camara is an
invasive species'Invasive species' is a phrase with several definitions. The first definition expresses the phrase in terms of non-indigenous species that adversely affect the habitats they invade economically, environmentally or ecologically...
and has covered large areas in
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
,
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
and much of Africa. It colonizes new areas when its seeds are dispersed by birds. Once it reaches an area,
L. camara spreads quickly. It coppices so well, that efforts to eradicate it have completely failed. It is resistant to fire, and quickly grows in and colonizes burnt areas. It has become a serious obstacle to the natural regeneration of important native species including the sal tree in Southeast Asia, as well as plants in 22 other countries. In greenhouses,
L. camara is notorious for attracting
whiteflyThe whiteflies, comprising only the family Aleyrodidae, are small hemipterans. More than 1550 species have been described. Whiteflies typically feed on the underside of plant leaves.-Agricultural threat:...
.
While considered a pest in Australia, it shelters several native marsupial species from predators, and offers a habitat for the vulnerable
Exoneura native bee, which nests in the hollow stems of the plant.
L. camara has been reported to make animals ill after ingestion.. The
berriesThe botanical definition of a berry is a simple fruit produced from a single ovary, such as a grape or a tomato. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. The flowers of these plants have a superior ovary formed by the fusion of...
are edible when ripe though like many fruit are mildly
poisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism...
ous to humans and livestock if eaten while still green.
L. camara has been listed as a Category One "Invasive Toxic Species" in Florida by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, and has become a problem in Texas and Hawaii.
Other uses
Some communities have found alternate uses for Lantana, as it is difficult to eradicate. Some household furniture, such as tables and chairs are made from the stalks, or the small branches are bundled together to make brooms.
Ornamental
Some
Lantana cultivars are ornamentals and these tend to have small herbaceous stems.
See also article
LantanaLantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants, native to tropical regions of the Americas, Africa and existing as an imported plant in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both herbaceous plants and shrubs growing to tall...
.
External links