VERBENACEAE

VERVAIN FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken

Annual to tree, generally hairy
Leaves cauline, opposite, generally toothed; stipules 0
Inflorescence: raceme, spike, or head, generally elongated in fruit; bract generally 1 per flower
Flower bisexual; calyx generally 4–5-toothed; corolla 4–5-lobed, radial to bilateral, salverform to 2-lipped; stamens 4–5, epipetalous (if 4, generally in unequal pairs); ovary superior, 2- or 4-lobed, generally 2-chambered, style 1, often with 2 unequal lobes, only 1 stigmatic, lateral
Fruit: 2 or 4 nutlets, drupe-like, or capsule
Genera in family: ± 90 genera, ± 1900 species: especially Am tropical. Some cultivated (Clerodendron , Lantana , Verbena , Vitex ); some weedy worldwide (Lantana ); some used for wood (Tectona , teak).

PHYLA

Perennial, generally mat-like
Stem: central generally stolon-like; branches decumbent to erect, glabrous or ± strigose
Leaves opposite or clustered, strigose to appressed-hairy; hairs forked
Inflorescence: spike, ± spheric, becoming cylindric in fruit, dense; bracts ovate to wedge-shaped
Flower: calyx ± compressed, 2–4-toothed; corolla ± 2-lipped, tube generally > calyx; stamens 4, in unequal pairs; ovary 2-chambered, ovules 2, style lobes 2, stigma lateral
Fruit: nutlets 2
Species in genus: ± 15 species: warm temp, subtropical Am
Etymology: (Greek: clan or tribe, from clustered flowers)
Horticultural information: IRR or WET: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23 &SUN: 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17, 24 ; turf-like GRCVR; flowers attract bees.

Native

P. nodiflora (L.) Greene

Stem: internodes generally < 4 cm; branches generally < 15 cm
Leaf: blade 5–30 mm, ± ovate to wedge-shaped; margin generally serrate from above middle; teeth 5–11
Inflorescence 6–10 mm; peduncle 1.5–9 cm
Flower: corolla white to reddish
Chromosomes: 2n=36
Ecology: Generally wet places
Elevation: < 400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges), Great Central Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast, Channel Islands (Santa Cruz, Santa Catalina islands), Peninsular Ranges, Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: warm temperate, tropical ± worldwide

Native

var. nodiflora

Leaf generally 2–4 X longer than wide; blade elliptic to oblanceolate
Ecology: Wet places, ditches, fields
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Klamath Ranges, High North Coast Ranges), Great Central Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast, Channel Islands (Santa Cruz, Santa Catalina islands), Peninsular Ranges, Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: warm temperate, tropical ± worldwide
Flowering time: May–Nov
Synonyms: Lippia n. vars. canescens (Kunth) Kuntze, reptans (Kunth) Kuntze
Densely matted plants with leaves < 1 cm, widely naturalized from South America, have been called L. n. var. rosea (D. Don) Munz]