Lantana is also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana, Rainbow flower, Red (Yellow, Wild) Sage is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family. Lantana is called Samballei, Nongballei in Manipuri , Raimuniya in Hindi, Unnichedi and Arippu in Tamil , Tantani and Ghaneri in Marathi, Nata hu gida in Kannada, Pulikampa in Telugu, Chaturangi, Vanachhedi in Sanskrit . It has a beautiful name in Odia; Naga-airi which means ‘enemy of the serpent’.
Its Botanical name is Lantana camara.
Common lantana is a hairy, spiny, pungent smelling tropical shrub which grows to 6 ft high and may spread to 8 ft in width with some varieties able to climb on support like a vine. The leaves are ovate, acuminate, toothed and 2-5 in long by 1-2 in wide. Stems and leaves are covered with rough hairs and emit an unpleasant scent when crushed. The small flowers are held in clusters (called umbels) that are typically 1-2 in across. The flowers come in many colours like white, yellow, orange, pink, red etc. In addition to that the flowers usually change in color as they age. A lantana may look orange from a distance but the flower-head is examined closely may be found of singular white color, also yellow and red flowers that blend when viewed from afar. The fruits are ovoid and turn purple-black in color when they are mature. It grows in thickets, wastelands and is also grown as an ornamental plant in some gardens. When we were kids we sometimes used to eat the ripe fruits for fun. They do no taste bad. But later we learnt their leaves and the unripe berries are toxic. Livestock and pets become ill after eating it. How come! I never felt it! It has great medicinal use. It is used as a remedy for whooping cough, inflamed mucous membrane, for chronic inflammation of the skin, Sprains, Coughs, colds, fevers, jaundice, chest diseases and rheumatism. The decoction made out of the leaves and also stems is used to alleviate chronic inflammation of the skin or wash eczema. It’s a good mouth wash for ulcers of the mouth.
Lantana fruits
