Tick berry
Lantana trifolia

Family: Verbenaceae

What it is like

A scrambling shrub. It grows 3 m high. The stems are thin and have hairs. The leaves are in threes. They are oval and taper to the tip. The base is rounded and there are teeth along the edge. They are like sandpaper above. The flowers are usually pink or lilac. They are in spikes on long stalks. They form round heads. The fruit are red or purple berries.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America. It grows in open bushland, and dry forest. In East Africa it grows from sea level to 1900 m altitude. In Kenya it grows on fertile sandy and light clay soils between 900-2,500 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Central Africa, Central America, Colombia, Congo, Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Southern Africa, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin), Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten as a famine food. They are also used for wine. The leaves are used to flavour milk and butter.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. They are eaten by adults during famines.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or by cuttings. It can be used as a hedge plant.

Fruit are collected late in the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Abegwino, Ayamanchana, Bunga pagar puteh, Bunita burayo, Camaraiuba, Chocho, Choclitos, Chola winyo, Cidreira (falsa), Ebokawe, Hierba mora, Huayito morada, Liptowelly, Luhongole, Magwagwa, Mancheco, Mhugambu, Mhuuga, Midhandurbaa, Mpugambu, Mukenia, Muvisavisi, Mvepe, Nakasonde, Nkenia Petatillo, Olmakirikiriani, Palabra de mujer, Punita burayou, Punita purkaya, Tinpata lantana, Tunchi albaca, Uvinha-do-campo, Uvita, Venturosa, Yerejna kollo

Synonyms

Lantana cubensis Moldenke; ? Lantana maxima Hayek; Lantana mearnsii Moldenke; Lantana petitiana A. Rich.; ? Lantana salviifolia auctt. sensu Williamson; and several others