Lantana camara: A Burst of Floral Diversity

Lantana camara, a small evergreen shrub in the Verbenaceae family, can be an annual or perennial plant (Meyer, n.d.). The species, originally from tropical America, has been introduced to various countries for ornamental and hedge purposes, and it displays adaptability to a wide range of habitats, including open areas, disturbed environments, and agricultural landscapes (Kato & Kurniadie, 2021). It thrives in full sunlight and well-drained soil, but can tolerate poor conditions and drought despite of being widely farmed and naturalized globally. Biological control supports mechanical and chemical control, enabling further development of agents. Little is known about complex element populations and their taxonomic identities (Urban et al., 2011). Lantana can form dense thickets that inhibit the growth of natural species. Additionally, since it spreads on its own, displacing desirable species, it has the potential to become the primary understorey species loss and the development of a monotypic understory in India's dry deciduous forests (Kent, R. and Dorward, 2015). Species richness declines as density rises. Layering, in which roots are inserted into the ground, enables lantana to grow in thick stands and cover little ground. The plant has specific environmental requirements, including open canopies, favorable temperatures, non-saline and well-drained soils, sufficient rainfall, and poses challenges as it can spread quickly and is toxic to ruminant animals (Negi et al., 2019).

The objectives of studying plants are as follows: (1) to determine the Lantana camara's contribution to phylogeny; (2) to describe the information about Lantana camara; and (3) to understand its characteristics by investigating the traits, growth patterns, and distinctive features of Lantana camara.