Lantana camara L.
Family
Verbenaceae
Synonyms
Lantana aculeata L.
Vernacular Names
| Malaysia | Bunga pagar, bunga tahi ayam, jebat harimau (Peninsular) |
| English | Sage, wild sage |
| Indonesia | Kembang telek, tembelekan (Javanese), saliara (Sundanese) |
| Philippines | Koronitas, kantutay (Tagalog), baho-baho (Bisaya) |
| Thailand | Kaam kung (Mae Hong Son), khee kae (Pranchin Buri), yeesun (Trang) |
| Vietnam | C[aa]y tr[aa]m [oor]i, c[aa]y b[oo]ng [oor]i, c[aa]y t[uws] qu[is] |
Geographical Distributions
This shrub is native to tropical America, but introduced and naturalised throughout the tropics and subtropics hedges.
Description
This is an erect or slightly climbing much-branched shrub, up to 5 m tall. Its stems are square or 3-angled, often bearing hooked prickles, and highly aromatic.
The leaves are opposite or rarely in whorls of 3, egg-shaped to oblong-ovate, 5-8 cm x 3-5.5 cm. The stalk is 1.5-3 cm long.
The inflorescence is flat or hemispherical and slightly headed.The flowers have petal tube extending to 12 mm long during pollination, often slightly curved, orange-yellow or orange to pink, white, or variegated, changing to red or scarlet.
Its fruit is a spherical glossy drupe, deep blue when ripe.
Ecology / Cultivation
L. camara occurs from sea-level to 1700 m altitude in relatively open and disturbed, not too moist habitats. It is mainly a weed of plantation crops and pastures. Due to the toxicity of its leaves and seeds, it is a serious threat to sheep and cattle.
Line Drawing / Photograph
References
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Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2). 1998, Unesco.
