lantana
UK[lænˈtɑːnə]US[lænˈtænə]
n
A tropical American shrub of the verbena family, with dense clusters of small bright flowers that are often several colors on the same head.
Etymology
The word 'lantana' entered English in the mid-18th century as a direct adoption of the Modern Latin genus name. This Latin name was itself borrowed from an earlier Italian dialect word 'lantana', referring to the wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana). The Italian term likely traces back to the Latin 'lentus', meaning "flexible" or "pliant", a probable reference to the plant's tough, supple branches. Thus, the journey from a Latin adjective describing physical texture to the specific name of a vibrantly flowering tropical shrub showcases the often indirect and taxonomic pathways of botanical nomenclature.
Analysis
The word 'lantana' is a simplex loanword adopted directly from a scientific genus name. It does not contain separable morphemes within the structure of modern English.
Examples
The garden was brightened by a hedge of flowering lantana.
Butterflies and hummingbirds are frequently attracted to lantana.
In warmer climates, lantana can become an invasive species.