VERBENACE^E. 173 



the others ; ovary superior, 2 or 4-celled ; style 1 ; leaves gen- 

 erally opposite. 



The plants are common in the tropics, but not in the northern 

 temperate zone ; generally of little use. 



Verbena. L. 13. 2. Vervain. 

 The name in Latin and English is said to be from the Celtic 

 name of the plant. Anciently some species of this genus had 

 great reputation, but all that seems to be irretrievably lost. About 

 20 species have been described, and all belong to America except 

 V. officinalis ; 3 are found in this State ; more than a dozen have 

 been cultivated in England. 



V. hastata. L. Common Vervain. Stem 2-4 feet high, 

 with rough leaves, and small purple flowers in a crowded spike ; 

 leaves lanceolate, and those near the root hastate ; flowers purple, 

 tubular, with an unequal limb ; roads ; July. 



V. urticifolia. L. Nettle-leafed Vervain. Much like the 

 last, rather pubescent, with small white flowers ; roadsides, with 

 the other ; common, but not abundant ; July. 



V. angustifolia. Mx. Narrow-leafed Vervain. Has linear- 

 lanceolate leaves, remotely toothed ; stem a foot high, hairy, with 

 blue flowers ; rocky grounds ; June. 



V. officinalis. L. The only species common to Europe, and 

 supposed to be the plant so much used in medicine, in religious 

 offerings, and feasts, is now a neglected plant ; rarely cultivated 

 in this country. 



Phryma. L. 13. 2. 



P. leptostachya. L. Lopseed. The reflexed seed-vessel is 

 a very distinct character ; flowers in a long spike, with large 

 leaves below ; grows along hedges and woods ; July. 



This is an American genus of only one species. 



