358 Verbenacee—Verbena. 
dense spikes of small lilac flowers. The generic name is of 
classical origin, but the signification is obscure. 
1. V. Aublétia (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 resy-purple 
flowers. Itisa native of North America and of annual duration, 
introduced in 1774. V. Drumméndii is a variety of this. 
2. V. chamcedrifolia, syn. V. Melindres and V. metissoides. 
—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. V. tewerioides, 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. V. iwmcisa 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 varivties in cultivation are perhaps due to crosses 
between V. incisa and V. chamcedrifolia. 
3. V. pulchélla, syn. V. ténera.—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 Muhonétli with striped 
flowers belongs here. It is a native of South America, and was 
introduced in 1827. 
Tt 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 stripe:l and bordered varieties. 
V7. vendsa is a hardy herbaceous species from South America 
of ercet habit, with sussile entire somewhat rugose leaves and 
clongating heads of violet or bluish violet flowers. V. alittle 
has a branched inflorcsvence, aud is remarkable for its deeply 
4-winved stems. 
The genus Lant&na consists chiefly of South American 
