Flora of Israel: Lantana camara (Spanish Flag)

Lantana camara, Lantana armata, Lantana aculeata, Spanish Flag, Red (yellow, wild) Sage,

Hebrew: לנטנה ססגונית, Arabic: وردة الذيب

Scientific name:   Lantana camara L.
Synonym name:   Lantana armata Schauer , Lantana aculeata L.
Common name:   Spanish Flag, Red (yellow, wild) Sage
Der Deutsche Name:   Wandelröschen
Hebrew name:   לנטנה ססגונית
Arabic name:   وردة الذيب
Nederlandse naam:   Wisselbloem
Family:   Verbenaceae, Verbain Family, ורבניים


Life form (Raunkiaer):   Phanerophyte shrub
Spinescence:   Emergences
Leaves:   Opposite, entire leaf, dentate or serrate
Flowers:   Yellow, red, pink
Flowering Period:   April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Habitat:   Cultivated areas
Distribution:   The Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Deserts and extreme deserts
Chorotype:   China
Summer shedding:   Perennating


Derivation of the botanical name:

Lantana, a Latin name for Viburnum for the similar inflorescence

camara, a South American vernacular name for a species of Lantana.
armata, armor, armed; equipped, armed (spiny).
aculeata, with prickles or stings, spine-like.
The Hebrew name: לנטנה, Lantana, transliteration from the scientific name.

  • The standard author abbreviation L. is used to indicate Carl Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, the father of modern taxonomy.
  • The standard author abbreviation Schauer is used to indicate Johannes Conrad Schauer (1813 – 1848), a German botanist.

Flowers are yellow, later turning orange then red and remain on the axillary inflorescence for three days. The flowers, when yellow, produce nectar and are pollinated by butterflies. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. A number of bird species and sometimes sheep and goats disperse the seeds. Lantana berries change colour from dark green to black, they are edible when ripe but toxic before they become ripe.