380 bkeck's new book of floweks. 



plant, with leaves 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, phceniceiim, is a native of the South of Europe, a 

 handsome hardy perennial, growing three feet high, with 

 elongated racemes of purple flowers. 



V. pillverulentum. — This is a native of Britain, l)ienni- 

 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. Blattaria. — Moth Mullein. — An indigenous species, 

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

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

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

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

 agated from seed. 



VERBENA.— Vervain. 



[An ancient name for some sacred herb.] 



" Vervain was held sacred among the ancient, and was 

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

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

 susi)ended 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 ihe moii^ture, chaste and clear, 

 O'er Hie ground and liirr)Ugli the air."— Jfason. 



