102 



ORDER CXXV. VERBENACE^. 



Perhaps the most useful member of this family is Teciona grandlifi, 

 which yields the wood commonly known as Teak. A vicennia officinalis 

 is the tree which is common on the shores of the Bay, and is known in 

 Brazil as '• White Mangrove." Its bark is used for tanning leather in 

 India. The Vervain {Verbena officinalis) was used by the Romans 

 and by the Druids in religious ceremonies and incantations, and later 

 in Europe as a tonic ; but its use is now discontinued. Several others 

 of the fnmily have been used medicinally, and their leaves j'S tea, but 

 not to any great extent. It is .'^aid that the trees of Clerodendron me 

 remarkable for the sweet scent of their flowers ; but this chu hardly 

 be snid of our largest species (C. glabruvi). The dried leaves of Lippia 

 citriodora are infused like tea, and are also used for flavouring cream. 

 Many species of the family are in cultivation as ornamental plants, 

 and some of them are common in Natal. 



Number of species about 700. 



(Ex. Umsuswaan.) 



Inflorescence racemose, spicate, capitate, or rarely 



solitary Ovules erect. 

 Inflorescence cymose. Ovules pendulous. 

 Inflorescence capitate or si)icate. Ovules pendulous. 

 1 Ovary 2-celled, cells I-ovuled. 

 I Ovary 4-celled, cells 1-ovuled. 

 1 Ovary 2-celled, cells 2-ovuled or abortively 



1-ovuled 

 1 Ovary imperfectly 8-celled, cells 1-ovnled. 

 2 Limb of corolla 4-lobed. Fruit of 2 dry, separate, 



or cohering nuts. 

 2 Limb of corolla 4-lobed. Fruit a fleshy drupe. 



Verbena. 

 Priva. 



DURANTA. 

 LlPPIA 



Lantana, 



