TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL	previous taxon | next taxon Jepson Interchange (more information)
	©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California Print edition is available from the University of California Press

	The second edition of The Jepson Manual (2012) is available from the University of California Press
	See also the Jepson eFlora, which parallels the Second Edition

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. lasiostachys Link

Perennial 35–80 cm
Stems 1–5+, decumbent to erect; hairs short, spreading
Leaf 4–10 cm, ± ovate, coarsely toothed, generally deeply 1–2-lobed near base, soft-hairy to scabrous; petiole < 2 cm, winged
Inflorescence: spikes 1–3 per stem, 7–25 cm, generally open below (fruits not overlapping); flower bract 3–4.5 mm
Flower: calyx 2.5–4 mm; corolla 2.5–5 mm, blue to purple
Fruit 1–2 mm
Ecology: Open, dry to wet places
Elevation: < 2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: Oregon, Baja California
Varieties need further study.

Native

var. lasiostachys

Leaf: upper surface grayish green, generally ± soft-hairy, especially near base
Fruit: nutlet scar brownish, ± rough at 20X magnification
Chromosomes: 2n=14
Ecology: Habitats and range of sp
Elevation:
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province
Synonyms: V. abramsii Moldenke
Horticultural information: SUN: 6, 15, 16, 17 &IRR: 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.