VERVAIN FAMILY 



VERBENACEAE 



NARROW-LEAVED VERVAIN 



Verbena angustifolia Michx. 



The Narrow-leaved Vervain is not as common as some of the 

 Verbenas but is found in dry or sandy ground in open places from 

 Massachusetts to Florida and west to Minnesota, Kansas and 



Arkansas. In Illinois it is found on 

 dry barren slopes throughout but is 

 not common. 



This is a perennial with a slender 

 4-sided stem that grows i-2 feet high 

 and is slightly rough with short hairs. 

 It may be recognized at once by the 

 sessile leaves, which vary from ex- 

 tremely narrow to lanceolate but are 

 without the prominent lobes or teeth 

 found in other species. 



The flowers bloom from June to 

 August, beginning at the base of the 

 spike and opening successively toward 

 the top. The calyx is tubular and 

 nearly equally 5-toothed. The corolla 

 is blue or purple and distinctly 2- 

 lipped. Four stamens inserted on the 

 corolla tube are arranged in 2 pairs 

 of unequal length. The pistil consists 

 of a 4-celled ovary, a short slender 

 style and a 2-lobed stigma. The fruit 

 is within the persistent calyx and it 

 finally breaks up into 4 single-seeded 

 nutlets. 



The Showy Verbena, Verbena cana- 

 densis (L.) Britton, is so called because 

 of its very large blue, purple or white flowers in short heavy spikes, 

 which become 2-4 inches long in fruit. It is a hardy perennial, found 

 only on the Ozark extension and frequently cultivated in the same 

 locality. The very hairy stem is slender, branching and sprawling, 

 not over 20 inches high. The membranous, petioled leat is 1-3 inches 

 long, cut lobed and divided, with wedge-shaped base and elongated 

 petiole. The corolla is about 1 inch long and the limb one-half to 

 three-quarters of an inch broad. 



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