CLXXIII. VEEBENACE^. 617 



tubular. Corolla-limb oblique or 2-lipped. Capsule 2-coccous. *V6rhetia, Bouahea, *8tac7iy- 

 tarjilieta, *Lvppt'a. 



Sub- tribe 5. Lantanejj;. — Flowers capitate or spiked. Calyx short, membranous. Corolla- 

 limb oblique. Drupe of 2 1-celled pyrenes. *Laniana. 



Sub-tribe 6. DuEANTJiiB. — Racemes lax. Calyx enlarged in fruit. Corolla campanulate 

 or hypocrateriform. Drupe with 2-4 2-celled pyrenes. (America.) Oitharexylon, *Duranta. 



Sub-tribe 7. PETE.a!EJi. — Racemes lax, Calyx cup-sbap^, STtopthed, with a large invo- 

 lucriform epicalyx. Fruit coriaceous, indehiscent. (America.) *Petrma. 



Teibe II. ViTJEJ!. Inflorescence cymose, definite. Ovules pendulous, amphitropous, or 

 sub-anatropous. 



Sub-tribe 8. STMPHOREMBai. — Cymes few-flowered, contracted, involucrate. Fruit coria- 

 ceous, iudphiscent. (Indian twiners.) SympJiorema, Gongea, &o. 



Sub-tribe 9. Caetopteeidej:. — Cymes not involucrate. Capsule at length 4-valved. 

 (Asia.) *Garyopteris, &c. 



Sub-tribe 10. Viticej!. — Cymes not involucrate. Drupe fleshy, rarely dry. Tectona, 

 Prem/na, Gallicarpa, ^giphila, *Volkameria, *Glerodendron, Ghnelina, *YUex, &o. 



Teibe III. AviCENNiE.a}. — Inflorescence capitate, spiked, or centripetal ; flower with im- 

 bricate bracts. Calyx 5-leayed, Corolla 4-fid. Ovules geminate, pendulous, amphitropous. 

 Fruit indehiscent; embryo germinating in the pericarp. Avicennia. — Ed.] 



The affinities of Verhenuceee with Barraginem, Labiatee, and Acantliaoece have been given under those 

 families ; they are very close to StilbinecB in the irregularity of the corolla, number of the stamens, 2- 

 celled ovary, 1-2-ovuled cells, erect and anatropous ovules, spiked inflorescence and whorled leaves; but 

 in StiWinecB the corolla is valvate, the ^ stamens are equal, the fruit dry, and the embryo is axile in the 

 fleshy albumen. Their afiinity with Myoporinece is indicated by the insertion, irregularity, anisostemony, 

 and imbrication of the corolla, the didynamous stamens, 1-2-ovuled 2-celled ovary, and drupaceous or 

 baccate fruit ; but in Myoporinets the ovules are pendulous, the embryo axile in the fleshy albumen, the 

 leaves are generally alternate, the flowers axillary and usually soUtary. They have the same affinity with 

 ffelaginece, which besides have spiked flowers, and the diagnosis is the same ; added to which, in SelaginecB 

 the anthers are reniform and 1-celled, and the fruit is dry. A comparison with Glohulariece shows the same 

 similarities and diflerences, and Qlohulariem are further distinguished by their dry fruit, which is a 

 caryopsis. A close relationship is also observable between Verhenacem and Jasmineee ; in both the corolla 

 is hypogynous, sub-irregular, anisostemonous, and imbricate in estivation, the ovary is 2-Tcelled, the cells 

 l_2-oviiled, the ovules collateral, ascending and anatropous, the fruit is fleshy, the embryo exalbuminous 

 or nearly so, and the leaves opposite. VerbenanecB principally inhabit tropical regions, decreasing towards 

 the poles; the woody species grow in the torrid zone, the herbaceous in temperate cliinates. They are 

 rare in Europe, Asia, aijd North America. 



Verbenacees contaifi a little volatile oil, but bitter and astringent principles predominate, and their 

 medicinal properties Sjxe little esteemed in Europe. The Vervain ( Verbena officinalis), celebrated among 

 the ancient Romans ^nd the Druids of Gaul, was used in religious ceremonies and in incantations ; its 

 slightly aromatic bitter gave it formerly n place among tonics, whence its name of officinalis. Lippia 

 dtriodora is an undershrub of South America, cultivated in Europe, the dried leaves of which are infused 

 like tea, and also used for flavouring cream. Many species of Lantana are also used as tea in Brazil 

 {Lantana pseudothed), and their drupes are edible {L. annua and L. trifolia), as are those of Premna. 

 The Asiatic Calliaarpcs have a bitter aromatic bark, and their leaves are diuretic ; the American species 

 of the same genus are of repute in the treatment of dropsy. Some other Verhenacece are alexipharmics 

 {^Mgiphila, Gmelind) y Omelina mllqsa is a febrifuge, G. arhorea is recommended for rheumatism. 

 Verbena erin^ides is employed in Peru as a uterine stimulant. The Clerodendrons are trees remarkable 



