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Lantana camara

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Verbenaceae Genus: Lantana

lākana [lakana], lanakana (Ni‘ihau via St. John), lantana

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Malodorous, erect, branched shrubs usually 2–3 m tall, sometimes subscandent.

Stems: Stems up to 10 m long, stems and branches conspicuously armed with stout re–curved prickles or sometimes only rigidly pubescent or slightly prickly.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite and decussate (pairs of leaves alternating 90 degrees between nodes) or ternate. Blades ovate to oblong, 2–12 cm long, 2–4.5 cm wide. Upper surfaces conspicuously reticulate–rugose and scabrous; lower surfaces sparsely short–pilose or strigillose, sometimes glabrate, blades chartaceous, fragrant when bruised. Margins serrate. Petioles 0.5–2.5 cm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in capitate, hemispherical heads arising in the leaf axils, shorter than or slightly surpassing the subtending leaves, not elongating after anthesis; inflorescences becoming oblong in fruit; Peduncles 2–9 cm long, bracts oblong or lanceolate, 4–7 mm long; calyx ca. 3 mm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Each flower subtended by an oblong to lanceolate or ovate bract. Calyx small, membranous. Corolla usually opening yellow, sometimes orange, turning rose, scarlet, pink, orange, reddish orange, or rarely white; salverform, the tube ca. 10 mm long, the lobes 3–4 mm long, imbricate. Stamens 4, in 2 pairs, inserted near middle of and included in corolla tube; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 1-carpellate, 2-celled, placentation axile; ovules 1 per cell, erect, anatropous; style short; stigma thick, oblique or nearly lateral.

Fruit: Fruit purple or black; drupaceous; ca. 3 mm in diameter. Seeds 1 per cell.

Ploidy: 2n = 22; 24; 32–34; 36; 38; 40; 44; 55; 66

Habitat: Mesic forest; diverse mesic forest; dry shrubland; and other low elevation; dry; disturbed habitats.

Elevation Range: 2–1,070 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Naturalized
Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds
Other Animals

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Notes

  • 2-1,070m
  • Berries, especially when unripe, (unknown when ripe) contain a toxin that can cause a variety of symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dilated pupils, weakness, coma, and cyanosis. Following these symptoms, death may occur.
  • Contact with leaves may cause pain, itching, and redness
  • Description digitized by Joanne
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • extremely variable and often misinterpreted species with numerous forms, most of the plants in Hawaii would be referred to var. aculeata with corallas usually openin yellow, turning rose, rose purple, or pink, with stout recurved thorns. Other variations in Hawaii are nivea, mutabilis, and sanguinea. Bird-dispersed, often forming dense impenetrable thickets well naturalized prior to 1871 and apparently introduced in 1858

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 627 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1320 (Mi, Ni, K, O, Mo, L, M, Ka, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:564 (DESCR); Wood & LeGrande 2006:29 (Le? [reported by Caum in 1936 but no spm.]); Faccenda & Strong 2024:175 (identity of Haw’n material unclear, possibly a hybrid complex, based on Sanders 2006, 2012); Jonathan Plissner pers. comm. 2025 (Mi†, 2022)

Poisonous Plants of Paradise (Scott and Thomas) p.104-106

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Lantana camara Honolulu County, Kahuku Golf Course, Kahuku slope: 0; soil: sandy loam; very common weed. Preserved_Specimen Afualo, D. 93 Oahu BISH 1975-03-17
2 Lantana camara Leeward Koolau Mts., along Aiea Loop Trail open gulch Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5516 Oahu BISH 1985-03-18
3 Lantana camara Laie: BYU-H campus loam, roadsides and wasteplaces Preserved_Specimen Ziegelbauer, K. 31 Oahu BISH 1975-03-13
4 Lantana camara Church College of Hawaii Laie clay loam Preserved_Specimen Elia, H.V.K. 31 Oahu BISH 1971-04-30
5 Lantana camara Mokolii Dense thickets over most of the island. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 5041959 Oahu BISH 2005-04-19
6 Lantana camara National Park Campground, Sevel Pools Growing with Cassia glauca in rock wall along service road near sea cliff. Ground cover, lawn. No other plants nearby. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 82 Maui BISH 1978-10-11
7 Lantana camara Kau district. Along the trail leading from Hilina Pali shelter to Kipuka Pepeiou Growing in lava crevice. Preserved_Specimen Herat, T. 793 Hawaii BISH 1974-06-27
8 Lantana camara Kaohikaipu Islet, Waimanalo Bay broken basalt Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 14045 Oahu BISH 1937-06-13
9 Lantana camara Waahila, St. Louis Hights, Honolulu dry slope Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13696 Oahu BISH 1937-04-17
10 Lantana camara Wahiawa dry Preserved_Specimen Inafuku, R. Oahu BISH 1931-05-01
11 Lantana camara Manoa Valley, ridge up from Woodlawn, Olympus trail moist forest Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13838 Oahu BISH 1937-05-22
12 Lantana camara Volcano Road, 9 or 10 miles below Kilauea roadside. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 10267 Hawaii BISH 1933-09-06
13 Lantana camara Koloa; Kalaheo, Kalawai Park Secondary vegetation of Syzygium cumini, Psidium guajava, and Ficus microcarpa. Common weed in open areas. Preserved_Specimen Lorence, D.H. 5212 Kauai BISH 1988-05-10
14 Lantana camara Mokolii Islet, Kualoa dry slopes Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13583 Oahu BISH 1937-01-31
15 Lantana camara Laie - Kam Hwy slope: gentle; woil: moist, fertile; distribution: tropics & S. temperate zone Preserved_Specimen Mackelprang, J. 722 Oahu BISH 1977-04-01
16 Lantana camara Barking Sands. Pacific Missle Range Facility, U.S.Navy. Between Kokole Point and base housing in Dodonaea shrubland on low, coastal sand dunes. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2693 Kauai BISH 1988-01-15
17 Lantana camara Laie slope: flat; soil: loam Preserved_Specimen Hai, N. 36 Oahu BISH 1975-04-04
18 Lantana camara Honolulu County; Church College of Hawaii Laie Clay loam Preserved_Specimen Elia, H.V.K. 43 Oahu BISH 1971-04-27
19 Lantana camara Lehua Rock Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 26 Lehua Rock BISH 1931-04-20
20 Lantana camara Puna, Kamoamoa, on the coast Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 2861 Hawaii BISH 1959-06-20
21 Lantana camara ridge between Paaiki Gulch and Mahanaloa Valley Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5061 Kauai BISH 1983-08-31
22 Lantana camara Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 530 Lanai BISH 1930-01-16
23 Lantana camara Nuuanu Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1088 Oahu BISH 1909-02-05
24 Lantana camara ridge of Hoaryhead Range, off road from Lihue to Lawai, near Koloa Rd. Junction, Kahoaea, Haiku Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 744 Kauai BISH 1955-06-15
25 Lantana camara Mokuhooniki at the summit. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1146 Molokai BISH 1981-09-08
26 Lantana camara Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 358 Lanai BISH 1930-02-16
27 Lantana camara Moomomi; common shrub in proposed mining tract (parcel 8) occurs in sandy exposures as well as densly shaded Prosopis stands Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 2969 Molokai BISH 1986-10-30
28 Lantana camara Kukuioananipahu Gluch, Hamakua Dist Preserved_Specimen Tomich, P.Q. 902 Hawaii BISH 1960-02-26
29 Lantana camara Palolo Valley Preserved_Specimen Garber, D.W. 45 Oahu BISH 1919-11-02
30 Lantana camara Kalaupapa; airport, oceanview pavilion Preserved_Specimen Wysong, M.L. 413 Molokai BISH 2004-11-11
31 Lantana camara Mokulua, Lanikai Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5999 Oahu BISH 1978-02-07
32 Lantana camara Kilohana crater Preserved_Specimen Krauss, N.L.H. 1013 Kauai BISH 1966-04-01
33 Lantana camara Approximately 400 m SW of intersection of roads to LZ-1 and LZ-3, on S side of road at area recently burned. UTM coordinates 751200-2274200 Preserved_Specimen Warren, S. 16 Kahoolawe BISH 1987-04-10
34 Lantana camara Kokee Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1078 Kauai BISH 1968-04-24
35 Lantana camara Lanai Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 499 Lanai BISH 1930-02-16
36 Lantana camara Kipapa Gulch S. ridge, Waipio, Koolau Mts Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 543 Oahu BISH 1932-05-15
37 Lantana camara In Diamond Head Crater Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1342 Oahu BISH 1930-05-11
38 Lantana camara Alau. On ridge on W side of island Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 5040524 Maui BISH 2005-04-05
39 Lantana camara Molokini Islet Preserved_Specimen Palmu, H. 1 Maui BISH 1925-08-13
40 Lantana camara District of North Kona, Hawaii Belt Road (Mamalahoa Hwy.), near mile 28; Kaupulehu Preserve Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 1297 Hawaii BISH 1985-10-16
41 Lantana camara Lehua Rock Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. 26 Lehua Rock BISH 1931-04-20
42 Lantana camara Lantana grove on Mt. Kalena, Waianae Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7441 Oahu BISH 1934-09-30
43 Lantana camara Luamakika Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5769 Kahoolawe BISH 1988-02-24
44 Lantana camara roadside, Kunia, Oahu Preserved_Specimen Swarbrick, J.T. 0.5 Oahu BISH 1976-01-07
45 Lantana camara Hanalei-Kalihikai Ridge; along Power Line Trail Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10963 Kauai BISH 1931-01-02
46 Lantana camara Kaalualu Beach, Kau Preserved_Specimen Meinecke, W.H. Hawaii BISH 1969-09-04
47 Lantana camara Maui Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Maui BISH 1913-02-10
48 Lantana camara Oahu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Oahu BISH 1908-10-07
49 Lantana camara Papaia, small island near Kailua Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Oahu BISH 1915-11-01
50 Lantana camara Round Top, by road Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1930-06-28
51 Lantana camara S. ridge of Kipapa Gulch, Waipio, Koolau Mts.; Zone 2 Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1932-05-15
52 Lantana camara unknown Preserved_Specimen BISH
53 Lantana camara Waianae Mts Preserved_Specimen Jensen, S.R. Oahu BISH 1985-04-01
54 Lantana camara 1.5 mi W of Moomomi beach, sand dunes Preserved_Specimen Aidem, J. Molokai BISH 1972-02-17
55 Lantana camara Kaalualu, Kau Preserved_Specimen Meinecke, W.H. Hawaii BISH 1969-09-04
56 Lantana camara Pupukea, Kahuku Preserved_Specimen Octavio, A.M. Oahu BISH 1930-01-12
57 Lantana camara Kaalualu Bay near South Point Preserved_Specimen Whistler, W.A. 17 Hawaii BISH 1972-04-06
58 Lantana camara Puuwaawaa HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 12/12/2002
59 Lantana camara Palolo Preserved_Specimen Lyon, H.L. Oahu BISH 1909-05-09
60 Lantana camara P.T.B.G., Lawai Valley Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 2268 Kauai BISH 1971-12-28
61 Lantana camara Ka`ohai, Lopa Gulch, vicinity of Pu`u Nene. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 41903 Lanai BISH 2019-04-03
62 Lantana camara W Maui, Hulu Island, Kahakuloa Preserved_Specimen Kepler, A.K. 43 Maui BISH 1981-08-20
63 Lantana camara Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Halawa Xeriscape Garden ground cover along a path nr. gazebo Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 9254 Oahu BISH 1990-03-03
64 Lantana camara BYU-HC Slope: flat; soil: loam Preserved_Specimen Lee, P. 22 Oahu BISH 1975-03-17
65 Lantana camara U.H. campus, Bachman Hall full sun Preserved_Specimen Lau, J. 1354 Oahu BISH 1985-08-26
66 Lantana camara Wailua, Game Reserve stockpile of topsoil; on plots stripmined for bauxite ore in 1958-60 Preserved_Specimen Howard, R.A. 20175 Kauai BISH 1985-10-20
67 Lantana camara Kapapa Islet, Kaneohe Bay Sandy coral soil on raised reef, not at all abundant Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 14010 Oahu BISH 1937-06-06
68 Lantana camara Puuwaawaa HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 12/12/2002
69 Lantana camara Manoa-Palolo Ridge dry forest Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 9290 Oahu BISH 1933-03-19
70 Lantana camara Laie slope: flat; distribution: grows wild on roadsides and in waste places; native to tropical America Preserved_Specimen Higuchi, G.T. 31 Oahu BISH 1971-05-07
71 Lantana camara Koko Head, Maunalua rocky hillside Preserved_Specimen Baker, R.J. Oahu BISH 1933-03-25
72 Lantana camara Milolii Ridge, Waimes open windswept headland Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 13713 Kauai BISH 1933-12-27
73 Lantana camara Honolulu District. Southern Koolau Mountains, just off Wiliwili Nui Trai. Casuarina Lowland Forest W/ Lantana camra, Clidemia hirata, Kalanchoe pinnata, Acacia confusa, Passiflora suberosa, Asparagus plumosus, Psidium, Schinus, Psychotria, Polyscias, Scaeola, Leptocaphylla, Alyxia, Psychotria, Kad Preserved_Specimen Tangalin, N. 3623 Oahu BISH 2014-01-10
74 Lantana camara Wailuku, 104 Nakoa Dr. Growing on empty lot at this address with other field plants, kiawe, scattered Lantana. Preserved_Specimen Tanabe, L. 30 Maui BISH 1960-12-28
75 Lantana camara Pahole Gulch, Waianae Mts., Waialua; near crest of spur on E side of main gulch dominant species -Grevillea Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 1320 Oahu BISH 1976-06-15
76 Lantana camara Kawaihoa Point Grassy slopes Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 23613 Niihau BISH 1949-03-31
77 Lantana camara Moku Mana N On windward margin of north islet. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 5040613 Maui BISH 2005-04-06
78 Lantana camara Leahi, 1 mile NE of Limestone sinkhole in shade of Artocarpus Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22779 Niihau BISH 1947-08-13
79 Lantana camara Puu Ku Occasional. Found mostly on summit area scattered in naupaka and anaunau. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 6042211 Maui BISH 2006-04-22
80 Lantana camara Near LZ-1; unprotected area. UTM coordinates 752400-2275800 Hardpan area. Preserved_Specimen Warren, S. 3 Kahoolawe BISH 1987-04-08
81 Lantana camara Kapakahi Gulch relatively dense shade, koa zone, in shrub below kukui Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37217 Oahu BISH 1937-07-22
82 Lantana camara Kipapa Gulch, Waipio moderately moist pineapple field Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 434 Oahu BISH 1931-08-24
83 Lantana camara Mohihi Valley quite abundant in valley and on slopes in open rainforest Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. 1455 Kauai BISH 1940-07-28
84 Lantana camara Kipapa Trail, off trail, S of trail, finger to E of saddle disturbed wet lowland forest; Metrosideros, Acacia, Dicranopteris Preserved_Specimen Reynolds, L.S. 113 Oahu BISH 2006-06-08
85 Lantana camara BYU-HC, Laie Slope: flat; soil: sandy; distribution: grows wild on roadsides and waste land Preserved_Specimen Utai, M. 8 Oahu BISH 1975-04-01
86 Lantana camara ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District. The plant was experimental tree planting site The plant was growing exposed to direct sunlight. The dominant vegetation in the area is Psidium guajava, Brachiaria mutica and Pluchea odorata. Preserved_Specimen Yoshida, L. 79.101 Hawaii BISH 1979-04-16
87 Lantana camara Mokulua, S islet, Kailua grassy slope Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 12887 Oahu BISH 1936-02-16
88 Lantana camara Hanalei common in lowland Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 20443 Kauai BISH 1950-01-29
89 Lantana camara Waianae Range, Makua Keaau Forest Reserve; Nike site on ridgetop mesic forest Preserved_Specimen Annable, C.R. 3093 Oahu BISH 1996-10-28
90 Lantana camara Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park along coatstal and inland trail Area highly modified by ancient Polynesians; predominantly exotic vegetation. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 10261 Hawaii BISH 1984-04-07
91 Lantana camara Hulu, Maui Two plants at top. Preserved_Specimen Starr, F. 5040424 Maui BISH 2005-04-04
92 Lantana camara along road to Mauna Kapu common weed in dry pasture Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 672 Oahu BISH 1967-10-23
93 Lantana camara Laie Mountain area, on roadside and fields Preserved_Specimen Au, R. 12 Oahu BISH 1960-11-14
94 Lantana camara Manoa-Palolo Ridge dry forest Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 9291 Oahu BISH 1933-03-19
95 Lantana camara ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District, in the experimental tree planting site Growing exposed to direst sunlight. The dominant vegetaion in the area is Psidium guajava, Brachiaria mutica and Pluchea odorata. Preserved_Specimen Yoshida, L. 79.101 Hawaii BISH 1979-04-16
96 Lantana camara Mokulua, north islet, Kailua top of beach Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 12924 Oahu BISH 1936-02-16
97 Lantana camara East Maui, Hana District, Kauiki, on the E side of Hana Bay Dominated by Casuarina planted in late 1930s but with numerous other alien species (Terminalia, Syzygium, Ardisia). Red sand beach. Preserved_Specimen Flynn, T.W. 2500 Maui BISH 1987-10-02
98 Lantana camara Mokuauia Island, Laie thin soil on reef rock Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 14170 Oahu BISH 1937-07-04
99 Lantana camara Honolulu District: Koko Head Introduced. Patchy throughout, with dense patches along cliff trail leading up from Hanauma Bay. Preserved_Specimen Bruegmann, M.M. 120 Oahu BISH 1984-01-17
100 Lantana camara Milolii ridge, Waimea scrubby koa forest Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 13721 Kauai BISH 1933-12-27
101 Lantana camara Kamanaiki, Kalihi ridge Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. 3 Oahu BISH 1930-10-15
102 Lantana camara East Maui, 1.1mi E of Ulupalakua Ranch on Piilani Hwy. (Hwy. 31) in Eucalyptus, Psidium, Melia forest. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4784 Maui BISH 1983-01-14
103 Lantana camara Paokalani islet, 150 m offshore of Honokea Stream, 270x85 m Lantana camara, Pluchea carolinensis, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Schiedea globosa, Chenopodium oahuense, Cocculus orbiculatus, Eragrostis variabilis, Plectranthus parviflorus, Dodonaea viscosa, Psydrax odorata, Chamaesyce celastroides Preserved_Specimen Wood, K.R. 11228 Hawaii BISH 2005-04-14
104 Lantana camara BYU-H Campus, Laie Flat slope; loam soil Preserved_Specimen Tiu, C. 35 Oahu BISH 1975-02-22
105 Lantana camara Puu Peahinaia, Paalaa-Kawailoa divide, Koolau Mts Lower edge of woods Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11116 Oahu BISH 1931-10-04
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