ClimateAugust 16, 2026

lantana

lan-TA-nuh

Definition

A genus of flowering plants, specifically the invasive species Lantana camara, that acts as a harmful weed in Indian forests by displacing native vegetation.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'lentare' (to bend), the name was originally applied by Linnaeus to a different plant with flexible stems, later being transferred to this tropical shrub.

In the news

The article discusses how the invasive shrub Lantana camara has overrun forest floors in India, destroying food sources for elephants and forcing them into conflict with human communities.

Lantana camara: The elephant-size problem hiding in India’s green forests

Read the full article ↗

The South First

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