Verbena officinalisL. European vervain

Verbena officinalisL. - European vervain

Scientific Description:

Perennial herb, 30–100 cm, with stiffly erect angular stems, vegetative parts ± densely adpressed-strigose, upper part of stem and branches also densely glandular. Median leaves lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, 2–11 × 1–5 cm; pinnatifid with irregular, entire or dentate lobes. Spikes slender, elongating in fruit, at least terminal spike finally 8–30 cm. Calyx 2–2.5 mm. Corolla pale lilac with yellowish throat, 4–5 mm, limb c. 2.5 mm diam. Nutlets 1.75–2 mm, sharply reticulate above.

 

Flowering time: June–August.

Habitat: Ruderal, on disturbed ground, rocky slopes, dry river beds, banks, walls, sand dunes, wood and scrub, etc., s. l–1800 m.

 

Reference:

Townsend CC (1982). Verbena officinalis L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 33.

Public Description:

Verbena officinalis, commonly known as “european vervain” or “common vervain”, naturally grows from temperate and subtropical Eurasia to the east to China and North Africa. It is a perennial herb with pale lilac flowers, up to 1 m in length. It blooms between June and August and is found in ruderal, on disturbed ground, rocky slopes, dry river beds, banks, walls, sand dunes, wood and scrubs. It is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant. The European vervain is also grown as a honey plant or used to set up a butterfly garden.

 

References:

Anonymous (2016) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbena_officinalis/Accessed date: 24.11.2016.

Ekim T (2012) Verbena L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 882.