MINNESOTA WEEDS, SERIES III 27 



Hoary Vervain {Verbena stricta Vent.) 



Other common names. — Wooly vervain, mullein-leaved vervain. 



Description. — Hoary vervain is a perennial weed from two to four 

 feet high, which flowers from June to September and seeds from 

 August to November. It is seldom found in cultivated fields but is 

 quite common on dry plains and prairies. The purplish flowers are 

 borne on a dense solitary club-shaped spike between six and twelve 

 inches long. The flowers at the bottom of the spike open first. The 

 oblong reddish-brown seeds are often found in the commercial seed 

 of red clover, timothy, alfalfa, and lawn grass. This plant is spread- 

 ing slowly by its seeds being carried in hay. 



Eradication. — Be careful to sow no grass seed containing seeds of 

 hoary vervain. Cut grass crops early to prevent seeds from maturing. 

 Spud out occasional plants when found. 



Wood Sage (Teucrium canadense L.) 



Other common names. — American germander, ground pine. 



Description. — Wood sage is a perennial plant, flowering from June 

 to September, and seeding from August to November. It lives on rich, 

 low grounds, along roadsides, and on the banks of streams. This 

 plant belongs to the Mint family, and grows from one to three feet 

 high. It is not very much branched. It propagates only by seeds. 

 The seeds are ovoid in shape, brown and rough, and are generally 

 found in commercial seeds of timothy, millet, barley, red clover, oats, 

 flax, and white clover. 



Eradication. — Avoid sowing grass seed containing weed seeds. 

 Spud out stray plants and plow and subdue badly infested spots. 



Dragonhead Mint (Dracocephahtm parviflorum (Tourn.) L.) 



Other common name. — Dragonhead. 



Description. — Dragonhead mint grows from four inches to two 

 and one-half feet high. It is either an annual or a biennial and flowers 

 from early June to August. The seeds mature early in the fall. It 

 generally grows in rocky or gravelly soil, and is quite commonly dis- 

 tributed throughout the state. The pinkish white flowers are all 

 crowded in a dense terminal head and the seeds, by means of which 



