178 



Descriptive Flora 



spread, usually in patches. One of our commonest flowers, 

 blossoming as early as February and as late as December. 



Verbena ciliata Benth. Wild Verbena 



Spreading annuals with square stems, opposite leaves, and 

 flat topped clusters of small, 5-lobed, reddish or real purple 

 flowers. Leaves opposite. Blades broadly ovate, usually with 3 

 large but shallowly cut lobes, the lobes blunt toothed or cut with 

 smaller rounded lobes. Blade tapers at base and continues along 

 a short petiole. Calyx hairy, about the same length as the sub- 

 tending bract. Corolla tubular (the calyx lobes shorter than the 

 tube), 5-lobed, the lobes usually shallowly notched at their tips. 

 Corolla about y± across (7-8mm) and tube about %" (10-15mm) 

 long. 



Verbena pumila Rydb. Wild Verbena. 



Similar to Verbena ciliata but leaf blades are typically less 

 deeply and finely cut and flowers smaller. Corolla pale violet 

 or purplish white, shorter (8-10 mm.), only about % i nc h across 

 (3-4mm). Not as common and never conspicuous. Genus named 

 from the Latin Verbena, a sacred branch. 



Verbena canescens H. B. K. Vervain. 



Square stemmed plant, 6 to 12 inches high, branched at base, 

 having opposite, strongly veined leaves and tiny, blue or purple, 

 5-lobed flowers scattered along about the upper third of the erect 

 stems or branches. Leaf-blades linear to ovate, incised or 

 toothed, sometimes deeply lobed, veiny beneath, 1 to 2 inches 

 long. Spikes conspicuously bracted, the tiny leaf -like bracts ex- 

 ceeding the calyx. Corolla 5-lobed, slightly 2-lipped. Seeds in 

 groups of 4's in the calyx cups. March to June. Widespread, 

 but showing a preference to well drained, rocky hillsides. 



Verbena officinalis L. Slender Vervain. 



Slender and square-stemmed perennials, 10 to 24" tall, with 

 tiny pale blue or deep lavender flowers scattered along the upper 



