THE WEEDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



In Contrast to the other Verbena (V . venosa, figured on p. 71) the 

 present species is far less showy. The short and crowded flower-spike of V. 

 bonariensis is by no means so conspicuous as that of the dwafer plant 

 V. venosa. 



Vernacular Names. " Wild Verbena or Vervain," " Purple-Top or 

 Weed '' are the only names under which I have heard it referred to. 



Fodder and other Uses. So far as I am aware, stock never touch it except 

 by accident, and then the feeding only serves to prune it. It bears numerous 

 seeds and spreads rapidly in waste places, and even encroaches on pasture 

 land. The most that is good that can be said of such plants as this and its 

 close relation, the Lantana, is that, while it has possession of an area, such 

 land is rested, one cannot say fallowed. There is nothing poisonous about 

 the plant. At the same time its room is better than its company, and it 

 ought always to be hand-pulled when it makes its appearance in a fresh 

 place. 



Where found. T^Q species is common in waste places and pastures in 

 extra-tropical South America, and has spread as a weed of cultivation over 

 South Africa, the Mauritius, and some other countries, and is evidently 

 introduced only into Australia. (B.FL, v. 37). 



It is a very old Australian colonist, and now it is found practically over 

 the settled parts of Australia. It has been proscribed in the following 

 municipalities and shires: 



' SHIRES. 

 Cockbum Gloucester Munibulla. 



MUNICIPALITIES. 



Burwood Dubbo Hamilton Ulmarra. 



Concord East Maitland Moss Vale 



Blu 3 Weed (Verbena venosa Gill, et Hook.) 

 (VERBENACE^E: Verbena Family.) 



Botanical Name. Verbena, Latin for the herb Vervain (a Verbena), an 

 equivalent also for all sacred leaves, such as laurel, olive, myrtle, rosemary, 

 &c., used to adorn ahars in Roman times. Paxton, however, says it is said 

 to be derived from its Celtic name " Ferf aen." Venosa (Latin), full of 

 veins, referring to the under side of the leaves. 



Botanical Description. Genus Verbena, Tournef : 

 Calyx. Five-toothed. 



Corolla. With five spreading slightly unequal lobes. 

 Stamens. Usually four, enclosed in the corolla tube. 

 Ovulary. Four-celled. 

 Fruit. Dry, separating into four nuts. 

 Herbs or rarely shrubs with opposite leaves. 

 Flowers. Usually in terminal bracteate spikes. 



Species. Venosa, Gill, et Hook. A perennial herb with a simple erect 

 quadrangular stem, about 1 to 1$ feet high, the whole plant rough, with 

 short harsh hairs. 



Leaves. Opposite, oblong-lanceolate, acutely and remotely dentate, sessile, 



with a broad subcordate base, strongly veined underneath (the 



character from which the specific name "venosa" has been derived). 



Flowers. Blue-purple, in short spikes, terminal, and on rather long 



peduncles in the axils of the uppermost bracts and floral-leaves. 

 Corolla. Three times longer than the cylindrical calyx, and twice longer 

 than the bracts; the tube hispid. 



