380 BRECK'S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



plant, with loaves exceedingly wooly on both sides, with 

 its long, thick, cylindrical spikes, with handsome five- 

 parted flowers, abundant in dry pastures ; in July and 

 August. Most of the European species are biennial ; a 

 few perennial, and some quite desirable for the garden. 



V, phttniccum, is a native of the South of Europe, a 

 handsome hardy perennial, growing three feet high, with 

 elongated racemes of purple flowers. 



V. pulviTulentiira. This is a native of Britain, bienni- 

 al, and a magnificent plant, sending up a stem a yard 

 high, covered with many hundreds of gold-colored flow- 

 ers ; leaves powdery, ovate-oblong, sub-serrate. 



V, lilattai'ia, Moth Mullein. An indigenous species, 

 two or three feet high. Flowers in a long terminal ra- 

 ceme, yellow or white, marked with purple ; stamens cov- 

 ered with purple hairs. This plant is said to have the 

 power of driving away the llatta^ or cockroach. Prop- 

 agated from seed. 



VERBENA. VERVAIN. 



[An ancient name for some sacred herb.] 



" Vervain was held sacred among the ancient, and was 

 employed in sacrifices, incantations, etc. ; it was one of 

 the plants termed by the Greeks, Sacred Herb. It was 

 suspended around the neck as an amulet, thought good 

 against bites, and recommended as a sovereign medicine 

 for various diseases. It is supposed to have been in use 

 with the Druids upon sacred occasions.' 



" Lift your boughs of Vervain blue, 

 Dip in cold September dew ; 

 And dash the moisture, chaste and clear, 

 O'er the ground urid through the air." Mason, 



