pg . 32
NQ DRY TROPICS WEED FREE
LANTANA
Lantana camara
DESCRIPTION
This is a perennial heavily-branched shrub that can grow as compact clumps , dense thickets or as scrambling and climbing vines . It grows to three metres , with a spread of four metres . There are small thorns on the branches . Leaves grow opposite each other on the stem and are about six centimetres long . They are bright green above , paler beneath and have rounded toothed edges . When crushed the leaves produce a distinctive odour . Flower colour can be red or pink to yellow-white or orange . They are two and a half centimetres wide and are found in symmetric clusters . It flowers all year round . Fruit are glossy , rounded and purplish-black in colour when ripe . Habitat it occurs in coastal and sub-coastal areas and grows in many habitats , from exposed dry hillsides to wet , heavily shaded gullies . Weed characteristics Lantana varieties are poisonous to stock . It will colonise any soil and forms dense impenetrable thickets that smother native vegetation . Dispersal it is spread mostly by people and fruit-eating birds .
LANTANA
SHRUBS
BIOSECURITY MATTER
Restricted . This species is Category 3 Restricted matter under Queensland Legislation . This species is also listed a Weed of National Significance ( WONS )
HOW TO ACT
It is preferable to use chemical control on regrowth after slashing . Foliar spraying , including use of splatter guns , is effective in controlling lantana . A broad range of herbicides are approved for use on lantana . A hot fire will also help to control large infestations by allowing access and controlling seed germination . Mechanical clearing can be used to clear the initial infestation if it is large enough but follow-up treatments must be conducted . Isolated plants can be removed by hand with ongoing monitoring for regrowth necessary . There are a number of biological control agents that reduce growth rates reducing spread however these do not kill the plant .