Climate Matching Map
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| climatematch-lantana_camara-united_states___nevada-20261024.pdf (1.77 MB) | 1.77 MB |
1. Question 1
Yes
1
High
The species Lantana camara, also known as Lantana strigocamara (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 2023), is native to central and South America (University of Florida, 2024) but has been found growing outside of cultivated areas in Australia, California, Florida, and other southern U.S. states (Institute for Systematic Botany, 2024, Lucid Central, 2016, Calflora, 2023). In Australia, it has invaded all suitable habitat with the current climate, but future climate changes indicate it might spread further across Australia (Thomas, S. E., 2015). It has invaded agricultural land and other habitats such as wetlands, dunes, and forests (University of Florida, 2024).
No references cited.
2. Question 2
No
0
High
According to the climate match map, the areas where this species is found and naturalized does not match Nevada's climate. There are some areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas where this species is found and matches Nevada's climate, but the majority of points do not match Nevada's climate.
No references cited.
3. Question 3
Yes
2
High
This species is listed as invasive in Florida and Hawaii and in other countries and continents such as parts of Australia, Guam, New Zealand, Argentina, parts of Asia, the Philippines, and Greece (Thomas, S.E., 2015). In parts of Australia such as Queensland, all Lantana species are category 3 restricted invasive plants and are prohibited from being given away, sold, or released into the environment (Queensland Government, 2024).
No references cited.
4. Question 4
No
0
High
There are some reports of lantana camara in west Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona that match Nevada's climate. However, the number of reports appear relatively low compared to other states and countries by looking at the climate map. This plant is not considered invasive in Arizona, and seems to become invasive more likely in tropical and subtropical environments that are close to the ocean and have more moisture or humidity in the air (University of Arizona, 2012).
No references cited.
5. Question 5
No
0
High
There is a species in the same genus called Lantana montevidensis, which is also considered invasive in some places such as Florida (University of Florida, 2015) but not considered invasive in a similar climate as Nevada.
No references cited.
6. Question 6
No
0
High
More than 50% of this species is not found in any region that matches Nevada according to the climate matching map.
No references cited.
7. Question 7
Yes
1
High
This species has the ability to displace native plants and form dense thickets, making it difficult for other species to survive (Texas Invasive Species Institute, 2014). A study on Lantana camara showed that as an invader plant, there was a negative relationship between lantana camara invaded areas and native plant species richness (Raphela, T. D., & Duffy K., 2022). This indicates that native plants are being replaced with Lantana camara.
No references cited.
8. Question 8
Yes
1
Very High
A study on Lantana camara in subtropical and tropical rainforests found that Lantana camara is less ignitable than drier native rainforest plant species, but that "fuel bed depths, leaf litter depths, percentage cover by fuels and amount of medium-size class fuels were higher in dry rainforest invaded by Lantana camara than in non-invaded forests." This suggests that this species could be capable of changing fire regimes when it is an invader by shifting the distribution of fuels closer to the ground creating a more substantial fuel layer in the understory (Berry, C., 2011). CABI also lists that this species tolerates and/or benefits from fire (Thomas, S.E., 2015).
No references cited.
9. Question 9
Yes
1
High
The fruits and leaves are poisonous to animals and humans. This species can cause liver failure or even death in livestock animals such as cattle, sheep, goats or horses, and also in wild animals. The unripe fruit has also been known to poison human children who eat them (Texas Invasive Species Institute, 2014).
No references cited.
10. Question 10
Yes
1
Very High
This species has the ability to form dense thickets while taking over a native ecosystem (Texas Invasive Species Institute, 2014). In one study, it was found that this species has specific allelopathic properties in which the chemicals released into the soil from this plant may suppress the regeneration of native species nearby by decreasing their germination and seedling growth and increasing their mortality (Kato-Noguchi, H., & Kurniadie D., 2021). This allelopathic property may promote its ability to form dense thickets and take over native ecosystems. This species forms extensive, dense and impenetrable thickets in forestry plantations, orchards, pasture land, waste land and in natural areas which indicates that this could impact the movement of animals or people in these areas that are typically intended for human or livestock use (Thomas, S. E., 2015).
No references cited.
11. Question 11
Yes
1
High
This species has the ability to spread vegetatively through adventitious shoots, especially through shallow lateral roots, following mechanical damage (Thomas, S. E., 2015). Another source states new plants are capable of producing new plants through the production of suckers, branches taking root after contacting the soil, or stem fragments or pieces of the crown being moved and dumped into other locations as well (BioNET-EAFRINET, 2024).
No references cited.
12. Question 12
Yes
1
High
The roots have an ability to form new shoots from detached root fragments which supports the ability to produce dense thickets vegetatively (Thomas, S. E., 2015). This occurs commonly in human-disturbed areas where this plant material may be spread. This species is known to commonly produce dense thickets through vegetative means.
No references cited.
13. Question 13
Yes
1
High
This species has the ability to germinate and flower year round and can germinate from wildlife eating the seeds and passing through the digestive tract as well (Texas Invasive Species Institute, 2014).
No references cited.
14. Question 14
Yes
1
High
One plant can produce 12,000 fruits, in which each fruit is a 2-seeded drupe (Texas Invasive Species Institute, 2014), (Thomas, S. E., 2015).
No references cited.
15. Question 15
Yes
1
Medium
One study found that Lantana camara has a persistent seed bank as the results significantly showed that seed survival was high for buried seeds receiving natural rainfall (Vivian-Smith, G., & F. Panetta D., 2017). Another study showed that Lantana camara does not have any dormancy issues that prevent it from successfully germinating (Campbell, K., 2024). However, another study stated that seed germination is generally low, but greatly increases after being ingested, suggesting it doesn't have high rates of germination on its own (Australian Association of Bush Regenerators, 2024).
No references cited.
16. Question 16
Yes
1
Medium
This species ability to become invasive is largely due to its seed and pollen production (Deng, Z., Czarnecki, II D. M., & Gong L., 2024). There isn't a lot of data about how long this species takes to produce viable seeds, but one study's findings on seed banking dynamics, suggest that lantana has a persistent seed bank and this should be considered in management programs (Vivian-Smith, G., & F. Panetta D., 2017).
No references cited.
17. Question 17
Yes
1
High
This plant can flower at any point in the year when sufficient moisture is present (Australian Association of Bush Regenerators, 2024). CABI states that flowering and fruiting can take place throughout the year with the peak being the first two months of the rainy season when the soil is the most moist (Thomas, S.E., 2015).
No references cited.
18. Question 18
Yes
1
High
The seeds are dispersed easily by birds who eat the seeds (Thomas, S. E., 2015). Other animals are also known to eat the fruits which allows for long distance dispersal (Texas Invasive Species Institute, 2014).
No references cited.
19. Question 19
Yes
1
High
According to CABI, occasional long distance dispersal of Lantana camara by water will occur. It has been documented happening along flood plains and a river in South Africa (Thomas, S. E., 2015).
No references cited.
20. Question 20
No
0
High
This species spreads mostly through animals, garden ornamental trade, or through layering, which is where horizontal stems take root when they are in contact with moist soil (Queensland Government, 2024).
No references cited.
Evaluation Notes
ClimateMatch version 2.0 added 10/24/2026 JB
Total PRE Score
16
20
80
