Scientific
name
Lantana camara1
Family name
Verbenaceae
Local name(s)
Yewof-qolo (Amargna), Shimbero, Katekate (Oromiffa)
General description
L.
camara
is a small much-branched shrub usually 1 - 1.5m high, occasionally to 3m. Stems
are prickly. The leaves are aromatic, in threes, opposite, margin serrated,
coarse above. Flowers are purplish pink to orange, bone in clusters. Corolla
over 3mm across the apex. Fruits are 5 - 8mm in diameter and of blue-black color when ripe, numerous on one head, each one-seeded.
Edible part(s),
preparation methods and palatability
Fruits are edible. The fruits are
eaten fresh and raw. Children consume fruits. But the fruits are very small
and presumably do not contribute much to a daily nutritional intake.
Agroecology
The
species was introduced from South America.
It
grows
in the low- as well as in the mid- and the highlands (1,300 - 2,700m). It is
of American origin and now widespread in Africa and throughout the tropics in
forest and at bush edges, disturbed forests and roadsides. The species is
found all over Ethiopia mostly on fertile sandy and light clay soil. It has
been spread by running water and birds, which feed on it, to become a major
weed in agricultural areas.
Propagation
method(s)
By
seeds
Sample location(s)
(1) Jarso Kebele, Segen River, Konso;
(2) Babile Woreda, East Hararghe
Remarks
L.
camara
is cultivated as an ornamental and for fencing and is becoming a noxious weed in
certain areas. Branches are used as broom and the leaves as animal (goats)
fodder.
1 Parts of the following
description have been taken from MacLachlan, 1999 (no page numbers), who
has got the description from Fichtl, 1994: p.210 & Bukenya-Ziraba,
1996.
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