Lantana involucrata

Family: Verbenaceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 70-190 cm high. The leaves are 4-7 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide. They are sword shaped. There are teeth along the edge. They taper to the tip. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are like tubes. The fruit is fleshy with a hard stone inside. There is 1 seed. The fruit are edible.

There are about 150 Lantana species. They come from tropical and subtropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Bolivia it grows up to 2000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Anguilla, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Central America (country/location of origin), Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica (country/location of origin), Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Mexico (country/location of origin), North America, Puerto Rico, South America (country/location of origin), St. Kitts and Nevis, Turks & Caicos, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aguaramaimbe, Ahara-maime, Japutamo, Palabra de mujer, Pitiona, Sumaaca

Synonyms

Lanatana arubensis Moldenke; Lantana odorata L.; and many others