10- MILHO DE GRILO Lantana trifolia L. (VERBENACEAE)
10 - Milho-de-grilo - Lantana trifolia L. (VERBENACEAE)
Perennial, shrubby, branched, erect, with rough leaves and branches, but without acúleo. The leaves are verticilated, with a serrated margin, elliptical and with an acute apex, with a rough texture and characteristic aroma. The flowers in groups of up to three, start from the leaf axils, having a peduncle of 4 to 6.5 cm, groups of flowers with a 1.5 mm calyx, in pink color. Round, wine-colored, hairless fruits, 0.3 cm in diameter, with a sweet taste.
Distribution: Southeast, Midwest and South, in the Cerrado and on the edges of the Atlantic Forest. It can occur as an invasive plant in agricultural regions.
Situation in São Paulo: Despite being considered as a spontaneous and ruderal plant, it is a good indicator of remaining areas of cerrado, where it is always present.
How to plant: It reproduces extremely quickly, either by branch cuttings or by seeds, and the procedures are the same as those of other lanthanes; it also behaves well in pots. It tolerates long periods of scarcity of rainfall and is not demanding about soil fertility.
Uses: Very ornamental, its distinct fruiting, from wine to purple, could be used more in urban landscaping. It is considered a medicinal and meliferous plant. It blooms and bears fruit intensely all year round; its fruits are edible and have a mildly sweet taste, but don't expect to kill hunger with them.
LORENZI, H. DANINE PLANTS IN BRAZIL: TERRESTRIAL, AQUATIC, PARASITE AND TOXIC. PLANTARUM INSTITUTE. NOVA ODESSA, SP, 4th ED. 2008. 672P. IL.
DOS SANTOS SILVA, TR; LIMA, CT FLORA OF BAHIA: VERBENACEAE: LANTANA. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES SERIES SITIENTIBUS, V. 12, N. 2, P. 245-268, 2012.
Capins-rabo-de-burro, no Cerrado Infinito da Nascente.
As frutas, diferente de outras Lantanas são mais ornamentais do que as flores, criando um movimento bonito, em contraste com o volume da planta. Os pássaros se alimentam dos frutinhos e espalham as sementes, que germinam com facilidade. Dá para comer, tem um gosto adocicado suave, mas apenas pela curiosidade, é melhor deixar para eles. A planta tem começa a ser vista nos arredores do Cerrado Infinito.
Ainda é uma planta presente em vários terrenos baldios espalhados por toda a cidade, e resistem apesar desses terrenos darem lugar para construções, muitas vezes sem vegetação alguma, ou com projetos de paisagismo comerciais, que utilizam espécies que não acrescentam nada á biologia urbana.