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Lantana Camara
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Lantana Camara

Lantana camara

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameLantana Camara
DescriptionVigorous tropical shrub renowned for its dense, rounded clusters of tiny tubular flowers that dramatically change color as they age, creating spectacular multicolored displays of orange, red, yellow, pink, purple, and white all on the same plant. Blooms nearly year-round in warm climates, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Despite its ornamental beauty, considered one of the world's worst invasive weeds in many tropical regions. Aromatic foliage releases a pungent, sage-like scent when crushed. Berries are toxic to humans and livestock.
FamilyVerbenaceae
GenusLantana
TribeLantaneae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaBr % ⚥ K(5) C(5) A4 G(2)

Bracteate (small bracts present), bilaterally symmetrical (zygomorphic), bisexual, 5 fused sepals forming short calyx tube, 5 fused petals forming tube with 4-5 spreading lobes (slightly irregular), 4 stamens (didynamous - 2 long, 2 short), 2 fused carpels with superior ovary

Features
  • Name 'Lantana' from Latin name of unrelated Viburnum lantana (wayfaring tree) with similar-looking flowers. 'Camara' from Brazilian Portuguese. Called 'Wild Sage' for aromatic, sage-scented foliage. 'Spanish Flag' describes multicolored flowers. Over 650 cultivars developed. Listed among world's 100 worst invasive species
  • Flowers 0.25-0.5 inches (6-12 mm) long, small tubular blooms with 4-5 spreading lobes arranged in dense, flat-topped or rounded clusters 1-2 inches across. Flowers change color as they age: typically open yellow or pink, mature to orange, red, or purple, creating multicolored effect. Blooms nearly year-round in tropics, spring through fall elsewhere
  • Evergreen to semi-deciduous shrub with square stems (characteristic of mint family relatives). Fast-growing, reaching mature size in 1-2 years. Scrambling, sprawling habit; can climb if supported. Stems have small prickles. Aromatic leaves release strong, pungent scent when crushed or bruised
  • Grows 2-6 feet (0.6-2 m) tall as shrub, can climb to 10-20 feet (3-6 m) if supported. Spread of 3-8 feet. Lifespan of 10-15+ years. Propagated easily from semi-hardwood cuttings (root in 2-3 weeks), seeds, or layering. Self-seeds prolifically, spreads aggressively
  • Native to tropical Americas: Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and northern South America (exact origin uncertain). Now naturalized and invasive in over 60 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific islands, and southern United States. Thrives in disturbed habitats, roadsides, and forest edges
  • Requires full sun (6-8 hours) for best flowering, tolerates partial shade. Extremely adaptable to various soil types. Drought, heat, and salt tolerant once established. Thrives in poor soil. Frost tender (damaged below 28°F/-2°C). Zones 8-11 outdoors, grown as annual or houseplant elsewhere
  • Excellent butterfly and hummingbird attractor. Deer and rabbit resistant. Used in traditional medicine for various ailments (leaves, roots, flowers) but requires caution due to toxicity. Green berries extremely poisonous; ripe black berries less toxic but still dangerous. Plant sap causes phototoxic dermatitis in some people
  • Invasive in many tropical and subtropical regions, forming dense thickets that displace native vegetation. Allelopathic (releases chemicals inhibiting other plants). Banned or restricted in some countries/states. Sterile cultivars developed to reduce invasiveness. Despite problems, remains popular ornamental for continuous color and pollinator attraction

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificLantana camara
English (Alternate)Wild Sage, Red Sage, Yellow Sage, Spanish Flag, Cherry Pie, Shrub Verbena, Birds' Brandy, Christmas Berry, Tickberry, Camara vulgaris
Hindiरायमुनिया (Raymuniya), छतियानाशी (Chhatiyanaashi), पंचफूली (Panchphooli), गंधबहुरानी (Gandhaburani)
Tamilஉண்ணிச்செடி (Unnichedi), உண்ணிமுள் (Unnimul), உண்ணிப்பூ (Unnipoo), அரிப்பூ (Aripoo)
Teluguపులికంప (Pulikampa), తలంబ్రాలు చెట్టు (Talambralu Chettu), అట్ట కోడలు ఆకు (Atta Kodalu Aaku), కామినీ (Kamini)
Malayalamകൊങ്ങിണി (Kongini), അരിപ്പൂവ് (Aripoov), അരിപ്പോച്ചെടി (Aripochedi), നാട്ടെടച്ചി (Nattachedi), അരിച്ചെടി (Arichedi)
Kannadaಲಂಟಾನ (Lantana), ಕಸೂತಿ ಹೂ (Kasooti Hoo), ಕಾಡುಜೋಳ (Kaadu Jola), ಚದುರಂಗ (Chaduranga), ಲಂಟವಾಣಿ (Lantavaani), ಹೇಸಿಗೆಹೂ (Hesige Hoo)
Sanskritचतुरङ्गि (Chaturangi), वनच्छेदि (Vanachchhedi), लन्टाना (Lantana)
Bengaliপুটুস (Putus), বনমরিচ (Banmarich), ছত্রা (Chhotra), ভূতভৈরবী (Bhootbhairabi)
FrenchLantanier, Thé de Gambie, Galabert, Corbeille d'or
RussianЛантана (Lantana), Лантана сводчатая (Lantana svodchataya), Испанский флаг (Ispanskiy flag)
SpanishFlor de duende, Bandera española, Confite, Cariaquito, Cinco negritos, Frutillo, Suerte
GermanWandelröschen, Brasilianischer Tee

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.