Lantana camara L.
Vernacular name: Lantana, Indradhanu
Species Name: Lantana camara L.
Family: Verbenaceae
Habit: Perennial shrub, Invasive
Stem: Erect, ornamental, dark green, woody at bottom, quadrangular, hairy
Leaf: Ramal and cauline, simple, exstipulate, opposite decussate, petiolate, ovate, crenate or serrate, acute, unicostate reticulate venation, hairy and green.
Flowering: Throughout the year
Flowers: Umbel inflorescence, bisexual flowers, Bracteate, sessile, pentamerous, odourous, gamosepalous, 5 sepals, gamopetalous, imbricate aestivation, 4 stamens, basifixed, epipetalous, didynamous, superior ovary, bicarpellate, axile placentation
Fruit: Drupe
Uses:
- The decoction of the plant is used in tetanus, malaria and rheumatism.
- It is Cultivated in gardens as ornamental.
- It is an introduced species, which is widely naturalized in forests and also growing as an invasive species in disturbed lands, forest clearings and road sides of ghats. All species of Lantana indirectly affect country’s economy.
