Lantana – Lantana camara

Lantana

This native to the tropics of the western hemisphere causes vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, and labored respiration on ingestion! If large enough quantities are consumed it can even cause death. The leaves may cause dermatitis if handled by someone who is sensitive. The green unripe berries are the culprit, and activated charcoal has proven to be an effective treatment by leaching the triterpenes.

 

In research carried out in India a leaf extract has antimicrobial, fungicidal, and insecticidal effects. Even with the toxicity of the unripe berries, Lantana is used for herbal medicine.

            Leaves: used to treat flu, colds, coughs, fever, yellow fever, dysentery, Jaundice

            Oil: to treat cancers, chicken pox, measles, asthma, ulcers, swellings, eczema, tumors,

            high blood pressure, rheumatism, and malaria

 

A rare Essential Oil is produced through steam distillation of the flowers and leaves. The scent is somewhat reminiscent of Sage dalmatian having a rich green, herbaceous bouquet with a resinous, balsamic undertone. It blends well with Bergamot, Clove, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Patchouli, Clary Sage, Rose, and Jasmine essential oils. In Indian ethnic medicine it has had limited use in treating itchy skin, and minor skin traumas.

 

Even thought the unripe berries are quite toxic, in some areas of the world people do eat the fully ripe, black berries. Upon ripening it is heavily feasted on by birds. There are also other uses…the stems have been used as toothbrushes; the leaves are used to polish wood. The stems and leaves make mulch; and the stems have been used as a fuel for fires for cooking and heating. If handled properly the stems can also be used to produce paper, and the making of baskets.

Red Sage Yellow Sage – Lantana camara

Lantana eats me
in my dreams.
Its aromatic leaves
creep and grasp.
Sandpaper stems
pull beads of blood
from cringing flesh.
Its flowers mock me
pinkly, prettily.

By Nathalie Buckland

(Read the entire poem at http://dangerouslypoetic.org/poetry/lantana/)

 

 

This native of the American tropics often forms thickets and can become invasive in the proper climate, such as Florida where it is listed as a Category I Invasive Exotic Species. It is also considered invasive in East Africa, South Africa, Madagascar, tropical Asia, Australia, New Zealand,, southern Europe, the Middle East, southeastern & western USA, and many islands of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. But here in Zone 7a it is an annual and dies away with the frost.

These small, perennial shrubs have leaves that are fragrant when crushed and the most enticing flowers arranged in flat topped clusters made up of many small flowers of white, pink or yellow that change into orange or red. The new buds are in the center of the flower head with the youngest, most recently opened flowers radiating from the center and being yellow. Then the flowers on the outside edges of the flowers turn red as they age.

These beautiful flowers have another problem beyond the ability to be invasive, and that is their Toxicity. The plant contains Triterpenes in the green, unripe berries and the leaves. If eaten it can be fatal, also for sensitive people there can be skin irritation from the leaves. The signs and symptoms of poisoning for humans and horses, cattle and sheep are vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, and labored breathing.

Despite its toxicity the plant is used in herbal medicine and has been cultivated for hundreds of years! The leaves and roots have been popular in ‘folk’ remedies as an anti-inflammatory, tonic and expectorant. The totally ripe berries are eaten in many places….but great caution must be exercised with children…there is already a case in Florida of a child helping themselves and not surviving!

American Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana

This interesting member of the Verbena family is listed as Endangered, possibly Extirpated in Maryland. It is a deciduous bush with the most interesting purple berries in the fall. They last long into the winter and are enjoyed by many over wintering birds.

The berries are astringent and aromatic, being sweet, juicy, and fleshy. For human consumption they are best in small quantities.

Native Indians had many uses for the Beautyberry, among them: A decoction of the root bark as a diuretic; the leaves for dropsy; a tea from the roots for dysentery and stomach aches; A tea made from the roots and berries for colic; and, the leaves and roots in sweat baths for the treatment of malaria, rheumatism and fevers. The leaves crushed and rubbed on the skin offer protection from mosquitoes.

American Beautyberry – showing purple fruit

Beautyberry Jelly

 

1 ½ qts. Beautyberries, washed and clean of green stems and leaves.

Cover with 2 qts. water

Boil 20 minutes and strain to make infusion

Use 3 cups of the infusion, bring to boil, add 1 envelope Sure-Jell and 4 ½ cups sugar. Bring to second boil and boil 2 minutes.

Remove from heat and let stand until foam forms.

Skim off foam, pour into sterilized jars, cap.

Adapted from “Florida’s Incredible Wild Edibles” by Richard Deuerling and Peggy Lantz.