Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 627 (1753).

Synonymy: L. scabrida Sol. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. edn 1, 2:253 (1789); Camara vulgaris Benth., Bot. Voy. H.M.S. Sulphur 154 (1846). , Lantana aculeata, Lantana camara

Common name: Lantana, wild sage.

Description:
A tall shrub to 3 m high; stem and branches usually armed with recurved prickles, minutely and inconspicuously pubescent; leaves opposite, petiolate; lamina ovate to oblong-ovate, 2-12 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide, acute or short-acuminate, crenate-serrate, acutely narrowed or abruptly rounded to a subcuneiform base, scabrous, wrinkled and very rough with short stiff hairs.

Inflorescence axillary, capitate, hemispherical, not lengthening into spikes, up to 3 cm diam.; peduncles slender, 2-9 cm long, more or less appressed-pilose or puberulent; flowers bracteate; bracts linear-lanceolate, shorter than the corolla; calyx small, inconspicuous, c. 3 mm long; corolla orange, pink, red or white, sometimes orange-yellow or scarlet; tube curved, barely enlarged above the middle, 10-12 mm long, puberulent, inside coated with oblique erect hairs; limbs 6-9 mm wide.

Drupe globose, fleshy, purple, bluish-violet or black, 5-6 mm diam.

	Flowering and fruiting branch, flower, opened flower, calyx and fruit.
Image source: fig. 544A in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Macoboy (1969) What flower is that?, fig. 563.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: FR, EP, YP, SL.   W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.   Native to West Indies, subtropical and tropical America, less common in Central America, introduced and naturalised in many other warmer parts of the world. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: mainly June — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: It is readily propagated by cuttings and seeds.

Taxonomic notes: The name L. camara has been so loosely applied by collectors and authors to so many diverse species that much of the recorded information in botanical, horticultural, ecological, medical, pharmaceutical and anthropological literature is unreliable or. incorrect, unless it can be verified by preserved voucher specimens.

Author: Not yet available