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. lanceolata (Michx.) Greene

Stem: internodes generally 3–10 cm; branches 15–50 cm
Leaf: blade 25–60 mm, lanceolate to ovate; margin serrate from below middle, teeth 11–21
Inflorescence 7–18 mm; peduncle 4–9 cm
Flower: corolla white or pale blue to purplish
Chromosomes: 2n=32
Ecology: Wet places, marshes, ditches
Elevation: < 400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Great Central Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast, Desert
Distribution outside California: to e N.America, n Mexico
Flowering time: May–Nov
Synonyms: Lippia l. Michx