116 THE INDIANA WEED BOOK. 



Verbena, the other being the fog-fruit, a low creeping form with 

 only 2 nutlets, which grows along river banks and ditches. Four 

 of them, known as vervains, are with us common enough to be 

 classed as weeds, while another, V. offlcinalis L., is the European 

 vervain or ' ' herb-of-the-cross, " introduced widely throughout the 

 United States and occurring in southeastern Indiana. In Germany 

 a wreath of this vervain is presented to the newly married bride, 

 while in France it is gathered with secret incantations at different 

 stages of the moon, and is then held to possess remarkable curative 

 properties. It was formerly much used for love-philtres and 

 charms, and it and the rue were the two plants most used in the 

 mystic cauldrons of the witches This vervain was also among the 

 sacred plants of the Druids and was only gathered by them ' ' when 

 the dog-star arose from unsunned spots." The reasons for the 

 names "herb-of-the-cross" and ''holy herb" are set forth in the 

 following stanza: 



"All hail, them holy herb, vervin, 

 Growing on the ground; 

 On the Mount of Calvary 

 There wast thou found; 

 Thou helpest many a grief, 

 And staunchest many a wound. 

 In the name of sweet Jesu 

 I lift thee from the ground." 



80. VERBENA URTICIFOLIA L. White Vervain. Nettle-leaved Vervain. 



(P. N. 2.) 



Stem erect, slender, branched above, usually pubescent, 3-5 feet high ; 

 leaves ovate, mostly stalked, thin, pointed, coarsely saw-toothed. Flowers 

 very small, white or purplish, borne on numerous erect or spreading very 

 slender spikes. Seeds brown, slender, 1/20 inch long, with 1 curved and 2 

 straight sides. 



Our most common species, occurring along roadsides, among 

 rubbish about old buildings and in open pastures, usually in dry 

 soil. June-Sept. It is very often covered with the leaf mildew 

 fungus which gives it a sickly white hue and renders it an eyesore 

 to every passerby. In blue-grass pastures it often forms dense 

 patches, especially in the angles of old rail fences. Remedies: re- 

 peated mowing or grubbing; cultivation. 



SI. VERBEN-A HASTATA L. Blue Vervain. Simpler's Joy. Wild Hyssop. 



(P. N. 3.) 



Erect, roughish, branched above, 3-7 feet high ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, 

 stalked, pointed, sharp-toothed, 3-6 inches long, the lower ones often 

 hastate. Flowers bright blue in numerous rather slender erect spikes. 



