Common Name: Lantana
Scientific Name: Lantana camara
Family: Verbenaceae
Nepali Name: Ban Fanda ( बन फाडा ), Banmara ( बनमारा )
Size: 3-4m (height)
Location: Sitapaila, Nepal

Lantana is a perennial shrub that is commonly seen around different parts of Nepal. Ranging from 100m to 1950m in elevation, it can be found in a variety of places like forest margins, edges of farms, grasslands, etc, and can survive various climatic conditions. Lantana is one of the notable invasive species in Nepal and as the name suggests Banmara (Ban- Forest; mara- killer) decreases the plant diversity in the forest. 

The branches contain small thorns and there have numerous flowers on the long-stalked heads. This shrub has small tubular-shaped four-petal flowers which are arranged in clusters in terminal areas stem.  The leaves are ovate tooth edged 1-2 inches wide, 2-5 inches long, hairy, and have a strong unpleasant odor when crushed. The plant produces green berry-like drupe around. 5 mm in diameter with 1–2 seeds which after maturity turn to dark purple and are eaten by birds and animals.  

Please feel free to comment below if the above species has been misidentified.