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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. bracteata Lag. & Rodr.

Annual or biennial 8–30 cm
Stems few–many from base, prostrate to decumbent; hairs sparse, spreading
Leaf 1–3(6) cm, ± oblanceolate, coarsely serrate to lobed, rough-hairy; base tapered to ± flat petiole
Inflorescence: spikes 1–3 per stem branch, 2–10 cm in fruit, 6–10 mm diam, generally dense; flower bract 4–8 mm
Flower: calyx 2–4 mm; corolla 4–5 mm, white to lavender or blue
Fruit 1–2 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=14
Ecology: Open, disturbed places, pond or lake margins
Elevation: < 2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Cascade Range, Great Central Valley, South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California, Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, e N.America, n Mexico
Flowering time: May–Oct

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