Wild One Cyprus

foraging food

Lantana

Λαντάνα

çalı minesi

Scientific Name: Lantana camara

other names: common lantana, Spanish Flag, West Indian Lantana

AVAILABLE: AUG-OCT

EDIBLE PARTS:

Description

rough textured ovate egg-shaped, wide at base leaves with a dentate with symmetrical teeth margin that have a strong odour when crushed
small tubular-shaped flowers with four petals arranged in clusters
flower colours are in combinations of 2-3: red & yellow, red & orange, pink & yellow, orange & yellow and white & yellow
characteristic square stem common to the verbena family

preparation

underripe berries are poisonous

the ripe berry-like fruit can be eaten when it turns from green to dark purple or black with a silvery sheen. Rub the hard spikes from the skin
eat raw or use for jams, syrups and flavouring

extra info

An invasive plant around the world that is toxic to people and livestock when the leaves and stems are eaten.

The symptoms of lantana poisoning in people and animals are gastrointestinal pain, nausea and shortness of breath. Handling the plant or breathing in the smoke from burning the plant can induce symptoms.

Eating the unripe, green berries causes vomiting, diarrhoea, dilated pupils and laboured respiration.

The tree is native to the Central and South American tropics.

In Cyprus it’s planted by municipalities along roadsides and in public parks.

As an ornamental evergreen shrub it is suited to the Cyprus climate being resistant to drought and diseases.

Many butterfly species feed on the nectar of L. camara