VERBENACEAE 399 
cells l-ovuled. Fruit included in the calyx, of 2, hard, elongated, 1-seeded 
pyrenes. (Greek “spike” and “thick.’’) 
Species about 40 in tropical and subtropical America, 1 now widely 
spread in most tropical countries. 
1. S. JAMAICENSIS (L.) Vahl (S. indica Vahl). 
An erect, branched suffrutescent herb 1 to 1.5 m high, the stems 
terete, or the younger ones slightly angled. Leaves elliptic to oblong- 
ovate, acute, base decurrent on the petioles, 2.5 to 10 cm long, serrate, 
prominently reticulate. Spikes terminal, rather slender, 10 to 30 cm long, 
8 to 4 mm thick, green, continuous. Calyx small, oblique, 4-toothed, the 
bracts lanceolate. Corolla deep-blue, about 1 cm long. Fruit enclosed in 
the calyx, closely appressed to and somewhat sunk in the rachis, oblong, 
smooth, about 4 mm long. 
Common in waste places, borders of thickets, etc., fl. all the year; 
throughout the Philippines. A native of tropical America, now found 
in most tropical countries. 
5. DURANTA Linnaeus 
Erect, unarmed or spiny shrubs, with opposite or verticillate, toothed 
or entire leaves which are punctate beneath, the flowers blue or purplish, 
racemose, the racemes axillary or in terminal panicles. Calyx 5-toothed. 
Corolla somewhat salver-shaped, the tube longer than the calyx, the limb 
5-fid, spreading, the lobes unequal, rounded. Stamens 4, in 2 pairs, in- 
cluded, the filaments short, inserted on the middle of the corolla-tube. 
Ovary 8-celled, cells 1-ovuled. Fruit fleshy, containing four 2-celled 
pyrenes. (In honor of C. Durante, an early Italian botanist.) 
Species about 4, of tropical America, one introduced and cultivated in 
Manila. 
*1. D. REPENS L. (D. plumieri Jacq.). 
An unarmed, glabrous, erect shrub 2 to 8 m high, the branches often 
drooping. Leaves obovate-elliptic, 3 to 6 em long, apex acute or rounded, 
base cuneate, margins toothed above the middle. Racemes axillary and 
forming terminal panicles, spreading, slender, up to 12 cm long, the 
flowers mostly on one side of the rachis. Flowers purplish-blue, about 
1 cm long, the limb about 1 cm wide. Fruits fleshy, ovoid, yellowish- 
green, 7 to 8 mm long. 
At present rare in cultivation, fi. all the year; introduced before 1880 
from tropical America. 
6. PETRAEA Linnaeus 
Climbing shrubs, glabrous or pubescent, the leaves usually harsh. 
Leaves opposite, entire, coriaceous. Flowers blue or purplish, in terminal 
racemes. Calyx-tube short, with 5 spreading lobes which are persistent 
and increase in length after flowering, the throat with 5 teeth alternat- 
ing with the lobes. Corolla-tube short, cylindric, the limb oblique, 5-fid. 
Stamens 4, in 2 pairs, included. Ovary 2-celled, cells 1-ovuled. Capsule 
indehiscent, included in the persistent calyx-tube, 2- or 1-seeded. (In 
honor of Lord Petre, an English patron of horticulture and botany.) 
Species about 12 in tropical America, 1 introduced in the Philippines. 
