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).

VERBENA

Annual to shrub
Stems often 4-angled; hairs generally short, stiff
Leaves reduced upward; blade entire to pinnately lobed
Inflorescence: spikes, often in panicle-like clusters, generally terminal, generally very long in fruit
Flower: calyx 5-ribbed, 5-toothed, hairs generally strigose or appressed; corolla 4–5-lobed, ± radial to bilateral and 2-lipped; stamens 4, paired; ovary 4-chambered, ovules 4, style 1, lobes 2, 1 tooth-like, 1 with ± spheric stigma
Fruit: nutlets 4, generally oblong
Species in genus: ± 250 species: temp, tropical Am, Medit Eur
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name)
Reference: [Umber 1979 Syst Bot 4:72–102; Barber 1982 Syst Bot 7:433–456]

Native

V. gooddingii Briq.

Perennial (sometimes flowering first year) 10–45 cm
Stems 3–10+ from base, decumbent to erect; hairs soft, spreading
Leaf 1–4 cm, lanceolate to ovate, obtusely toothed, short-soft-hairy; base 3–5-lobed, tapered to ± flat petiole
Inflorescence: spike generally 1 per stem branch, 2–6 cm in fruit, 10–15 cm diam, dense; flower bract 4.5–6 mm
Flower: calyx 6–9.5 mm, hairs spreading; corolla 8–14 mm, purplish blue
Fruit 2–3 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=30
Ecology: Sandy soils, washes, rocky slopes
Elevation: 1200–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: e Mojave Desert, ne Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: to Utah, n Mexico
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Synonyms: var. nepetifolia Tidestrom; Glandularia g. (Briq.) Solbrig
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 10 &IRR: 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.