Poisonous Plant: Lantana camara

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Lantana camara flowers, poisonous plant, invasive species
Flowers of Lantana camara.

Originally brought from South America to this region for decorative purposes, Lantana camara has escaped into the wild where it thrived at clearings around villages, cultivation and forested areas. Owing to its toxicity, this shrubby plant belonging to the verbena family has become a cause of concern to the extent that it is categorized as an invasive species in some countries.

Lantana camara fruits, poisonous plant
Some ripe and unripe fruits of Lantana camara.

The fruits, for instance, although appear edible, can cause serious implication if consumed. Indeed, fatal cases have been recorded especially among children. Ingestion of the leaves by ruminants such as cows and goats will lead to liver damage followed by death in a few days.

Lantana camara leaves
Arrangement of leaves and flower clusters of Lantana camara.

The unmistakable flower clusters are held on erect stalk from the leaf axil near the top. Most of the flowers are orange and yellow, but variations occur in which the flowers are pink or red. The simple leaves with serrated margin are oppositely arranged, a typical characteristic of Verbenaceae. The fruits are held in tight cluster, each about 0.25 inch in diameter and ripen bluish-black. In its native range, consumers of the fruits include birds like manakins and honeycreepers. Here, bulbuls were observed to take the fruits and the flowers are frequently visited by butterflies.

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