192 VERBENACEAE (VERVAIN FAMILY) 



VERBENACEAE (Vervain Family) 



Perennial herbs. Leaves opposite. Flowers perfect, in terminal 

 or axillary spikes. Corolla sympetalous, regular or 2-lipped. 

 Stamens didynamous unless only 2, on the corolla, alternate with the 

 corolla lobes. Ovary superior, 2-4-celled ; carpels 2; ovules 4; style i, 

 terminal; stigmas 1-2. Fruit dry, separating into 4 nutlets — Only 

 the following genus. 



VERBENA (Vervain) 



Stems 4-angled. Leaves pinnately veined. Flowers bracted, blue or 

 purple or pink. — (Said to be from Celtic farfaen = to remove stone. Ap- 

 plication not clear.) 



A. Bracts shorter than the calyx. 



B. Corolla 8-10 mm. long; plant erect. E. V. stricta (hoary vervain) 



BB. Corolla about 4 mm. long. 



C. Plant erect. E. V. hastata (blue vervain) 



CO. Plant spreading or ascending. U. V. prostrata 



AA. Bracts longer than the calyx; plant prostrate or decumbent. E. V. bracteosa 



MENTHACEAE (Mint Family) 



Herbs or shrubs, erect to vinelike, stems mostly 4-angled. Leaves 

 simple, opposite, mostly punctate; stipules none. Flowers mostly 

 .irregular, perfect, variously clustered but mostly in axillary whorls. 

 Calyx persistent, regular to 2-lipped, 4-s-lobed, mostly veined. 

 Corolla limb 4-5-lobed, mostly 2-lipped; upper lip entire to 2-lobed; 

 lower lip usually 3-lobed. Stamens on the corolla tube, alternate 

 with the petal lobes, usually 4 ; 2 usually shorter or antherless or 

 rudimentary or wanting. Ovary 4-lobed or -parted, superior; ovules 

 4 ; style I, 2-lobed. Fruit of 4 nutlets. 



A. Herbs. 

 B. Plants erect or merely spreading, not vinelike. 

 C. Corolla distinctly irregular, distinctly 2-lipped in most. 

 D. Stem villous or densely tomentose. 



E. Leaves acute; flowers in terminal spikes on stem and branches; stamens 

 projecting beyond the corolla tube. 



F. Leaves mostly rounded at base; calyx lo-veined; corolla not dark-dotted; 

 ovary 4-Iobed. E. — (Honor of Teucer, a King of Troy who first used it 

 medicinally.) Teucrium occidentale (germander) 



FF. Leaves mostly cordate at base; calyx 15-veined; corolla dark-dotted; 

 ovary 4-parted. W. E. — (Said to be from Nepete, a town in Tuscany, 

 Italy.) Nepeta cataria (catnip) 



