372 DIDYXAMIA ANG10SPERM1A 



flower with 3 small subulate ciliatc persistent />rac/s at base. Calyx tubular, some- 

 what compressed, contracted at the throat, striatc-ncrved, minutely pubescent, 

 gibbous on the under side near the base ; upper lip with 3 subulate purple teeth 

 recurred at the point ; lower lip with 2 very short teeth ; after flowering the calyx 

 is reflexed, and closely pressed to the rachis. Corolla very pale purple, or whitish 

 tinged with purple, small; the lower lip elongated, spreading, 3-lobcd, veined. 

 Stamens included. Style longer than the stamens, somewhat persistent, obliquely 

 inserted near the apexof the seed. Seed 1, rather large, compressed, lance-oblong, 

 •triatc-grooved, greenish, coated with a thin transparent membrane, and enclosed 

 in the calyx. 



Hob. Borders of woods; fence rows, fee. frequent. Fl. July. Fr. August-Sept. 

 Obs. A curious plant; and the only known species of the genus. 



304. VERBENA. L. J\utt. Gen. 521. 

 [Celtic, Ferfaen, to remove stone; from its supposed medical virtues.] 



Ccrtyx tubular, 5-toothcd, one of the teeth often shorter. Corolla tu- 

 bular, somewhat funnel-form, with the limb rather unequally 5-lobed. 

 Cgpsule thin and evanescent Seeds mostly 4. 



Herbaceous: leaves opposite; flowers mostly in terminal spikes, bracteate. 

 Nah Ord. 220. Lindl. YerbekacBjE. 



1. V. hastata, L. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, tapering and acute, in* 

 cised-scrrate, pctiolate, the lower ones often hastate-lobed at base ; spikes 

 linear, erect, corymbose-paniculate ; flowers somewhat imbricated. 

 Beck, Bot. />. 283. 



far. b. oblongifolia 1 Nutt. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, sharply serrate; 

 spikes filiform, loosely paniculate ; flowers distinct, smaller. Bart. 

 Phil. 2. p.4h 

 V. paniculatal Pers. Stjn.2.p. 138. MuhL Catal.p.57. Pursh,Am. 



2. p. 416. JSfatt. Gen. 2. p. 40. Ell. Sk. 2. p. 98. Lindl. Ency.p. 

 520. Eat. Man. p. 384. 



Hastate Verbexa. Vulgo — Blue Vervain. Simpler'* Joy. 



Root perennial. Stem erect, 3 to 5 feet high, obtusely quadrangular, roughish* 

 pubescent, mostly purple, with rather short erect axillary branches above. 

 Leave3 3 to 5 inches long, and 3 fourths of an inch to near 2 inches wide, scabrous, 

 tapering acuminately to a sharp point, unequally or doubly incised-serrate, with 

 about half an inch at the apex often entire, and the lower ones often with a linear- 

 lanceolate serrate lobe on each side at base ; petioles half an inch to an inch long, 

 mostly with tufts of small leaves in the axils. Spikes 1 or 2 to 5 inches long, pur- 

 ple, thickish, linear, dense- Jowered, subimbricate, erect, somewhat fascicled or 

 corymbose-paniculate (in tar. b. 2 to 6 or 8 inches long, slender, and more spread- 

 ing, with the flowers smaller and distinct) ; flowers sessile, with each a lance- 

 ovate acuminate keeled bract at base shorter than the calyx. Calyx scabrous, 

 with 5 short acuminate teeth, and as many keel-like ribs. Corolla bluish -purple, 

 pubescent. Seeds 4, finally naked, oblong, triquetrous, convex externally, slightly 

 margined and nerved, brown. 

 Hab. Swampy meadows ; and along streams : frequent. Fl. July— Aug. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. The variety with slender filiform spikes, (which I suppose to be the tar. 

 oblongifolia, Nult) occurs along the Brandy wine ; and seems to be pretty distinct 

 If it be really the V. paniculata, of Lamarck, I am by no means sure il ought not 

 to be continued as a species, under that name. 



