DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 381 
“In Rome, the Vervain was used on various occasions, 
as, in religious ceremonies, incantations, treaties, etc. 
“ Bring your garlands, and with reverence place 
The Vervain on the altar.”—Ben Johnson. 
“Virgil mentions it as one of the charms used by an 
enchantress. 
‘Bring running water, bind those altars round 
With fillets, and with Vervain strow the ground.”"—-Druids’ Chorus. 
“Drayton, in: the Muse’s Elysium, calls it the Holy 
Vervain, and in the same poem speaks of it as worn by 
heralds. 
‘* A wreath of Vervain heralds wear, 
Amongst our garlands named, 
Being sent that dreadful news to bear, 
Offensive war proclaimed.” 
We have a number of indigenous Verbenas or Vervain in 
New England. V. hastata, which is the common blue Ver- 
vain, is the only one that has any claim to beauty, a tall and 
rather showy plant, often found by road sides on low 
ground; the stem is three or four feet high; leaves oppo- 
site, rough, sharply serrate, tapering to a point. Spikes 
numerous, erect, slender. The flowering commences at 
the base, and is long in reaching to the summit. Flowers 
close, of a dark-purplish blue. In bloom from July to 
September; perennial; not worth cultivating. 
Garden Verbenas.—The genus was considered a worth- 
less weedy race, until the introduction of V. Aubletia, 
chamedrifolia, and Lambertiz. 
Verbena chamedrifolia was introduced into England 
from Buenos Ayres, by Mr. Hugh Cumming, an ardent 
lover of nature, about 1825. For a long time this was 
the only species cultivated ; its form was excellent and its 
color of the most brilliant scarlet. The introduction of 
this beautiful and showy flower into this country, about 
