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'''Lantana''' is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants, native to tropical regions of the Americas, Africa and existing as an imported weed in numerous regions including Australia, New Guinea and Hawaii. ^[1] The genus includes both herbaceous plants and shrubs growing to 0.5-2 m tall.
Lantana's aromatic flower clusters (called umbels) are a mix of red and orange florets. Other colors exist as new varieties are being selected.
Lantana berries are edible when ripe ^[2] though like most fruit may be mildly poisonous if eaten while still green. Lantana flowers and berries are attractive to insects and birds. As with almost all plants the leaves are toxic if eaten.

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Cultivation and uses

References

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Cultivation and uses

''Lantana'' species are widely cultivated for their flowers in tropical and subtropical environments and (as an annual plant) in temperate climates.
Some species are invasive, and are considered to be noxious weeds in southern Asia, southern Africa, and Australia. In the United States, some ''Lantana'' species are now naturalized in the southeast, especially coastal regions of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and the Gulf Coast where it is often known as "ham and eggs".
''Lantana'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genera ''Aenetus'', including ''A. ligniveren'' and ''A. scotti'', and ''Endoclita'', including ''E. malabaricus''. Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on ''Lantana'' include ''Hypercompe orsa'' and Setaceous Hebrew Character.
Most of the plants sold as lantana are either ''Lantana camara'', ''Lantana montevidensis'', or hybrids between the two. ''L. camara'' (syn. ''L. aculeata'' or ''L. armata'') is the most common species in cultivation. Numerous cultivars of this species exist, including 'Irene', 'Christine' and 'Dallas Red' (all tall-growing cultivars) and several recently introduced shorter ones. The shorter cultivars may flower more prolifically than the taller ones. ''Lantana montevidensis'' is known as Trailing Lantana. The species gives blue (or white) flowers all year round. Its foliage is dark green and has a distinct odor.

References

1. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/l-camara.html
2. Herzog, F., Gautier-Béguin, D., Müller, K, "Uncultivated plants for human nutrition in Côte d'Ivoire" FAO Corporate Doucment Repository http://www.fao.org/docrep/w3735e/w3735e10.htm

Gallery

External Links

Article about Lantana Weed