Wild Sage, Lantana Verbena

Lantana camara

Physical Characteristics

Lantana camara is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 1.8 m (6ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The flowers are pollinated by Butterflies, Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil.

Distribution

Northern S. America - Venezuela and Colombia, through Central America to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Edible Uses: Tea The aromatic leaves are used to make a tea[407 ]. The ripe black fruits are eaten in handfuls, especially by children as a snack[398 ]. The sweet tasting drupaceous, fleshy, ovoid fruits are purple or black when fully ripe and about 5 mm long[360 ]. Some reports mention the toxicity of the unripe fruits[K ].

Medicinal Uses

Antiasthmatic Antibacterial Antidermatosic Antifungal Antiinflammatory Antiphlogistic Antipyretic Antirheumatic Antiseptic Antitumor Aromatic Diaphoretic Eczema Febrifuge Haemostatic Laxative Leprosy Malaria Odontalgic Pectoral Poultice Refrigerant Skin Stimulant Tonic Vulnerary The plant is often used in domestic medicine and research carried out mainly in India has shown it to contain a number of compounds with medicinal activity. The leaves contain 0.2% of an essential oil[360 ]. Extracts have shown antimicrobial, fungicidal, insecticidal and nematicidal activity[413 ]. The dried flowers contain 0.07% essential oil comprised mainly of caryophyllene-like bicyclic terpene (80%) and l,a-phellandrene (10-12%)[360 ]. The bark contains lantanine, 0.08%[360 ]. Verbascoside, which possesses antimicrobial, immunosuppressive and antitumor activities, has been isolated from the plant[413 ]. Lantanoside, linaroside and camarinic acid have been isolated and are being investigated as potential nematocides[413 ]. Lantana essential oil is sometimes used for the treatment of skin itches, as an antiseptic for wounds, and externally for leprosy and scabies[413 ]. It is applied as a poultice on rheumatic joints[360 ]. The root is sweet and bitter tasting, refrigerant, antifebrile[360 ]. A decoction is used to treat influenza, cough, mumps, incessant high fever, malaria, cervical lymph node tuberculosis, asthma, toothache, headache, inflammation, gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea[310 , 360 ]. The flowers are sweet tasting, mildly cooling and haemostatic[360 ]. A decoction of the dried flowers is used in the treatment of haemoptysis and pulmonary tuberculosis[360 ]. The leaves are aromatic with a minty taste, they have a cooling nature, are antiphlogistic, anti-dermatosic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, pectoral, stimulant, tonic and vulnerary[46 , 310 , 348 , 360 ]. An infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of fevers, constipation, tuberculosis, catarrh and bronchitis[310 , 348 , 360 ]. Combined with the leaves of Cymbopogon citratus, they are used as an infusion to treat colds, high blood pressure and malarial fever[348 ]. Externally, the leaves and stems are used as a wash to treat dermatitis, eczema, pruritus, measles and chickenpox rashes etc[348 , 360 ]. They are applied as a poultice to treat sprains, wounds and contusions[360 ]. As a douche, they are used to treat inflammations of the uterus[348 ]. A decoction of the bark is used as a treatment for fevers[360 ].

Known Hazards

The leaves and seeds are toxic[310 ]. The unripe, green berries cause vomiting, diarrhoea, dilated pupils and laboured respiration if ingested[293 ]. The leaves may cause dermatitis[293 ]. (All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested )