III.] 



VERBENACEM. 



259 



72. Natural Order, VerbcnacecB. — The Verbena Family. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with opposite leaves and more 

 or less irregular flowers. Stamens usually four. Ovary 

 four-celled, entire. 



Type — The (quinque-foliolate) Chaste-tree ( Vitex Ncgjindo). 



A small, downy tree or shrub, with opposite tri- or 

 quinque-foliolate leaves, and terminal panicles of small, 

 purplish-blue, irregular flowers. 



Observe the enlarged limb of the calyx, coloured bright 

 scarlet, of Hohnskioldia : the four-celled ovary of the Family, 

 resembling that of Labiates, excepting that it is not lobed 

 and the style is terminal. 



A rather large Family, principally confined to tropical 

 countries. The species are generally trees or shrubs, though 

 several are low herbs, as the Garden Verbena, one of the 

 brightest bedding-plants of English gardens. Teak {Tedojia 

 grandis) is the species of first importance in India, afi'ording 

 one of the best and most durable timbers known. The 

 flowers of the Teak are often hexandrous. Normally they 

 are pentandrous. 



Aloysia citriodora, the Lemon-scented Verbena, a fragrant 

 South American shrub, is common in Indian gardens, and 



s 2 



