THE VERVAIN FAMILY 
[ORDER LVIII. VERBENACE^] 
HIS order closely resembles the Dead-Nettle Family but is distinguished from it by the pistil, 
the seedcase of which is entire instead of being 4-lobed and is surmounted by the style 
rising from its apex instead of from its base. 
The order is a large one and contains herbs, shrubs, and trees. It belongs chiefly to the 
tropics and has only one representative in the British Isles. 
Many exotic genera are cultivated in greenhouses, such as the Lantana and Vitex. The 
American Verbenas are deservedly popular in gardens as their vivid colouring can hardly be 
surpassed, and the sweet-scented Verbena or Lemon-plant (Aloysia citriodora) is grown for the 
fragrance of its rough leaves. The most valuable species is undoubtedly the Teak (Tectona 
grandis), a magnificent tree, a native of East India, which has a particularly firm close wood, which 
is invaluable in shipbuilding, & c. 
I. VERVAIN. (VERBENA. Linn.) — Flowers in terminal spikes in the only British species- 
Calyx of 4 or 5 sepals, united into a tube and separating into 4 or 5 teeth, inserted below the 
seedcase (inferior) ; corolla of 5 petals, united into a tube and spreading into a slightly 2-lipped 
or salver-shaped 5-lobed limb, inserted below the seedcase (hypogynous) ; stamens 4, in 2 unequal 
pairs (didynamous), included in and inserted upon the corolla, occasionally with the upper pair 
imperfect (sterile) ; carpels 2 ; fruit dry, 2-celled, splitting into 2 or 4 little nuts (cocca). Herbs 
or undershrubs with 4-angled stems and opposite leaves. 
Common Vervain. (Verbena officinalis. Linn.)— The only British species. As 
just described. With long slender spikes of small pale mauve flowers, which terminate the stem 
and branches, each flower stalkless in a small bract ; the corolla with a spreading unequally 5-lobed 
limb ; the fruit of 4 little nuts, each containing 1 seed ; the stem 1-2 feet high, wiry, 4-angled, with 
spreading branches, and oblong deeply toothed or lobed leaves. 
This plant is one of ancient interest. It was held in high esteem by the Druids, and by the 
ancient Greeks who attributed to it wonderful purifying properties. \Plate 30 
Not uncommon. On dry banks, roadsides, &c. ; common in the south of England but rare 
in the north, unknown in Scotland, and rare in Ireland. July — September. Perennial. 
VOL. II s 9 H 
