Bird's Brandy, Small lantana
Lantana rugosa

Family: Verbenaceae

What it is like

An erect shrub. The stems and leaves have a smell. It grows up to 1.8 m high. The leaves are rough. The flowers are pink. They are clustered at the ends of stems. The fruit are purple.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid regions with a marked dry season. It grows in well drained sandy soils. It grows between 30-2,160 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Middle East, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zululand

How it is used for food

The pod is eaten raw. The fruit are ground and mixed with sour milk. Used for flavouring food. The leaves are cooked and eaten. Caution: The leaves contain alkaloids.

It is a famine food. The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, pod, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bhubhubhu, Ifathia, Inkhobe, Khitchukhurwani, Khokukurwani, Klein lantana, Lauhnmhn, Luhongole, Mabelemabutjwa, Mokgotutane, Mokhukurwane, Mosunkwane, Mubanda, Nakasonde, Tantani, Tihove ta valangu, Tshidzimba, Ubuhobe, Uguguvama, Utshwalabenyoni, Utywala-bentaka, Voelbrandweyn

Synonyms

Lantana alba Mill. ex Link. [Illegitimate]; Lantana leucantha Schauer; Lantana rugosa Thunb. var. tomentosa Moldenke; Lantana salviifolia Jacq.; Lantana violacea Desf.; Lippia caffra Sond.; Lippia lupuliformis Moldenke;