3 5 8 Verbenacece Verbena. 



dense spikes of small lilac flowers. The generic name is of 

 classical origin, but the signification is obscure. 



1. F. Aubletia (fig. 197). This handsome plant appears to 

 have been the first species introduced of those which have con- 

 tributed to the brilliant array of hybrids now in cultivation. 

 A hairy plant having deeply-cut trilobate leaves and rosy-purple 

 flowers. It is a native of North America and of annual duration, 

 introduced in 1774. F. Drummondii is a variety of this. 



2. F. chamcedrifolia, syn. F. Melindres and F. melissoldes. 

 A South American perennial species of creeping habit with 

 regularly toothed not laciniate leaves and umbellate reddish 

 violet flowers in the variety first introduced. 1827 is the date 

 recorded of its introduction. F. teucrioldes, from the same 

 country, is probably a natural variety of this species with 

 white or rose-coloured fragrant flowers. 



This species is believed to be the principal parent of the 

 garden varieties, though the typical plant is lost in the maze 

 of hybrids. It is, however, probable that several species or 

 natural varieties are variously blended and intermixed in the 

 garden forms. F. inclsa is a very beautiful allied plant from 

 South America with ovate-lanceolate irregularly toothed petio- 

 late leaves and long-stalked umbels of pale red flowers. Some 

 of the hybrid varieties in cultivation are perhaps due to crosses 

 between F. inclsa and F. chamcedrifolia. 



3. F. pulchella, syn. F. tenera. A distinct perennial species 

 of creeping habit with square stems. and deeply-cut leaves, and 

 smaller heads of smaller flowers. The divisions of the leaves 

 are narrow and distant, and the flowers usually variegated 

 in two or three colours. The variety Mahonetti with striped 

 flowers belongs here. It is a native of South America, and was 

 introduced in 1827. 



It is almost superfluous to allude to the numerous varieties 

 further than to remark that they exhibit every shade and tint of 

 lilac, purple, pink, scarlet, and crimson, and also pure white. 

 They are for the greater part uniformly coloured, but there are 

 some handsome striped and bordered varieties. 



F. venosa is a hardy herbaceous species from South America 

 of erect habit, with sessile entire somewhat rugose leaves and 

 elongating heads of violet or bluish violet flowers. F. alata 

 has a branched inflorescence, and is remarkable for its deeply 

 4-winged stems. 



The genus Lantana consists chiefly of South American 



