The lantana profile - Weeds Australia

DescriptionLantana camara—a species complexThe weed known as Lantana camara in Australia is ahighly variable hybrid plant probably originating fromtwo or more lantana species from tropical America.The Latin name Lantana camara refers in the strictsense to one Caribbean species, but in Australia, asin other countries, the name has been used mostly asa convenient reference for the highly variable weedyspecies complex. At least 29 varieties (indicated byflower colour, structure of leaf hairs, thorniness, andlength of bracts) are reportedly present in Australia,and have been divided into five main types identifiedby flower colour: pink, white, pink-edged red, red andorange (see Figure 2).Physical description• Lantana is a heavily branching shrub that grows2–4 m high as compact clumps or dense thickets.It is able to climb to 15 m with the support of othervegetation.• Lantana has arching stems that are square in crosssection,with pithy centres and short, backwardlyhooked prickles or spines. Aged stems can be up to15 cm in diameter.• The leaves are 2–10 cm long with toothed edges,bright green on the upper surface and paler green,hairy and strongly veined on the underside. Theygrow opposite one another along the stems, andtheir size and shape depends on the type of lantanaand the availability of light and moisture.• The plant has a shallow root system made up of ashort taproot with lateral roots branching out toform a mat.• The inflorescences (clusters of 20–40 individualflowers) are about 2.5 cm in diameter. Tightly packed,angular flower buds open from the outside towardsthe centre of the inflorescence as they mature.• Single-seeded hard green fruit, of about 5–7 mm,grow in clusters and ripen to shiny black or purplefleshy berries.• Crushing the stems and leaves produces a strongcharacteristic smell.Leaf variation in the five colour typesVariations in leaf colour, size and texture cangenerally be associated with the different lantanacolour types:Pink lantana—large, pale green leaves with avelvety textureWhite lantana—small, tough leaves, less velvetythan those of pink lantanaPink-edged red lantana—small, tough leaves,darker than those of pink lantanaRed lantana—large, dark green leaves with avelvety textureOrange lantana—small, tough leaves that arerough and hairy.Leaf sizes and shapes can vary.Lantana Best Practice Manual and Decision Support Tool7