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

Lantana a perennial shrub that is commonly seen around different parts of Nepal. Ranging from 100m to 1950m in elevation, it can be found in varity 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) it 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 is arranged in clusters in terminal areas stem.  The leaves are ovate tooth edged 1-2 inch wide, 2-5 inch long, hairy and has a strong unpleasant odour when crushed. The plant produces green berry-like drupe of around . 5 mm in diameter with 1–2 seeds which after mature turns to dark purple which are eaten by birds and animals.  

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