These colourful shrubs dot the landscape of Guyana. They are commonly known as West Indian Lantana, Spanish Flag, Red Sage, Yellow Sage, Wild Sage, Lantana. Here in Guyana, we call them Sweet Sage because of their sweet, herby scents. The scientific name of the plant is Lantanna camara, of which there are different varieties. The colours of the flowers range from whites to yellow, orange, red and gold. The one that we have here in Guyana is called the Lantanna camara ‘Luscious Citrus Blend’ which got its name from its vibrant flower blooms.
Sweet sage flowers – Image Source: https://www.needpix.com/photo/download/1857907/change-rose-lantana-tropical-plant-blossom-bloom-orange-red-lantane-la-palma
Origins of Sweet Sage
Lantanna camara, or the sweet sage is native to countries in Central and South America like Guyana but has spread to the Caribbean, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Australia, South Africa and some parts of Asia. It grows in a tropical area and can survive in harsh conditions.
Scientific Classification of Sweet Sage
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Asterids
- Order: Lamiales
- Family: Verbenaceae
- Genus: Lantana
- Species: L. camara
- Cultivar: Luscious Citrus Blend
Description of Sweet Sage
This perennial shrub has woody stems and grows up to eight (8) feet, with a width of about sixteen inches (16″) to four (4) feet. The flowers grow in clusters with the older flowers having a different colour from the younger ones. This particular variety has bright red and orange flowers with some yellow flowers growing in a cluster, which attracts birds, bees and other insects. Each flower in the bunch has four petals. The leaves are broad and ovate, typically dark green. The fruits of Sweet Sage turns from green to purple when ripe but is inedible to animals as well as humans.
Uses
Sweet Sage plant – Photo by: SulthanRA [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
- In India, studies were done that found the plant extracts contain antimicrobial, fungicidal, insecticidal and nematicidal activity.
- Essential oil made from Lantana is sometimes used to treat skin itches, leprosy and scabies. It is an antiseptic for wounds and is applied to rheumatic joints as a poultice.
- A decoction of the root of Sweet Sage is as a folk remedy to treat cough, fever, malaria, influenza, asthma, toothache and headache, inflammation and mumps.
- Dried flowers in a decoction are used in the treatment of haemoptysis and pulmonary tuberculosis
- The leaves have a minty taste and are antiphlogistic, diaphoretic, pectoral, stimulant, tonic and vulnerary.
- The infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of constipation, fevers, tuberculosis and bronchitis.
- The plant can also be used to control soil erosion
- Lantanna camara has been used as an ornamental plant since the Dutch brought it to Europe from the New World.
The ‘Luscious Citrus Blend’ is the most popular variety of Lantanna camara in Guyana and typically is seen as a weed. Its medicinal uses are not widely known the plant still boasts a wide variety of cures. You can find the fragrance of this wafting from these Sweet Sage shrubs all over the countryside. Its vibrant red, orange and yellow blooms are easy to spot so keep an eye out the next time you’re passing through any green scenery.
Article References
- https://www.plantsrescue.com/tag/red-sage/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02862327
- https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/lantana/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lantana_camara
- https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/170105/#b
- http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Lantana+camara
