396 



EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN. 



VERVAIN FAMILY. VERBENACEAE. 



This family of 1,200 species widely distributed in temperate and warm regions is not prominent in 

 M chigan. It includes species of Verbena and Lantana cultivated for ornament and two or three na- 

 tive weeds of little prominence. It is in great contrast with the rose family of the same size, which 

 affords so many prominent fruits and the queen of flowers, the rose. 



Fig. 173 (153). 



Blue Vervain. Verbena hastata L. An 

 erect, roughish perennial, 30-200 cm. high; 

 leaves rather narrow, taper-pointed; spikes of 

 flowers narrow, erect ;. flowers violet-blue. At 

 home in low mucky ground. A native plant. 



Fig. 174. 



Hoary Vervain. Verbena stricta Vent. An 

 erect, downy perennial, 30-90 cm. high; stem 

 four-sided; leaves sessile, obovate or oblong, 

 serrate; spikes thick; flowers purple. 



A weed in the prairie regions of the si 

 introduced from the west, 



state; 



