460 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



The calyx is tubular, five-ribbed, with five unequal teeth. Corolla salver- 

 shaped, two-lipped, five-lobed. Stamens four, two sometimes imperfect. 

 Ovary four-celled ; fruit, four-ribbed nutlets. Most of the species are 

 confined to America; one, V. officinalis, is indigenous in Britain and 

 distributed over Europe, North Africa, etc. 



The Common Vervain, Verbena officinalis, has been for 

 ages the object of superstitious regard, but its small flowers 

 and general weediness of growth render it unsuitable as a garden flower. 

 V. sitpina was introduced from Spain in 1640, V. urticcBfolia from North 

 America in 1683, and V. honariensis from South America in 1732, but 

 of those which may be properly regarded as garden flowers we commence 

 with the introduction of V. Aubletia from North America in 1774. This 

 species, with V. chanuBdrifolia (1827), V. incisa (1826), V. pklogijiora 

 (1834), V. teucrioides (1837), all from Brazil, are believed to have had 

 the largest influence in the production of the hybrid forms whose varieties 

 are so largely used to-day for bedding purposes, almost to the exclusion 

 of the original species. But as to the exact proportion in which this 

 influence has been exercised by diflerent species, or which particular 

 species are concerned, there is no definite knowledge. 



. Verbena Aubletia (Aublet's). Kose Vervain. Stems 



'9 to 12 inches high. Leaves oval, deeply toothed and 

 lobed, leaf-stalk winged. Flowers reddish purple, varying to lilac and 

 white, f -inch across ; July and August. Hardy biennial Plate 220a. 



V. CHAM^DEIFOLIA (Chamsedrys - leaved). Stem very slender, 

 creeping. Leaves oval or oblong, toothed, hairy beneath. Flowers 

 brilliant scarlet, large ; June to August. Half-hardy under-shrub. 



V. INCISA (cut). Stem sub-erect, branches erect, 2 feet high. Leaves 

 varying from wedge-shaped to lance-shaped, wrinkled, with deeply-cut 

 teeth and lobes. Flowers rosy purple ;• July to September. Greenhouse 

 sub-shrub. 



V. PHLOGIFLORA (flame-flowered). Stems sub-erect, branches erect, 

 Ih foot high. Leaves spear-shaped, wrinkled, deeply- toothed, hairy 

 beneath, margins slightly turned back. Flowers purple or lilac, f-inch 

 across. Greenhouse sub-shrub. Under cultivation the flowers vary to 

 red and blue. 



V. TENERA (delicate). vStem creeping, with many sub-erect branches. 

 Leaves torn into slender pinnate divisions, margins curled back. Flowers 

 violet. Greenhouse sub-shrub. Introduced from Brazil, 1827. Plate 

 220b, The var Maooietti has the flowers of a more reddish violet, the 

 lobes margined with white. 



V. TEUCRIOIDES (Teucrium-like). Stems tufted, sub-erect, rooting at 



