Colorado Wkkd Seeds 
26. VERVAIN FAMILY 
(Verbenaceae) 
triiit separating into 2 or 4 dry nutlets at maturity, or berry- 
like; endosperm little or absent, seldom fleshy; embryo straight. 
Vervain, Verbena 
(Verbena (Toiirn.) L.) 
I riiit separating into 4 dry nutlets at maturity ; nutlets 1-seeded, either 
oblong, or long and narrow, hard, either smooth or rough. 
Key to Species 
Seeds faintly ridged on the rounded side 1 . . V. hastata 
• Seeds strongly ridged on the rounded side 
Seeds 2-2.7 mm. long 2 . . y. striata 
Seeds 1.5-2 mm. long 3..V. bracteosa 
1. Blue Vervain (Verbena 
hastata L.) (Fig. 115). — Seeds 
Sanford’s-brown in color, with two 
or three faint ridges on the back 
nearly as long as the seed, white- 
tipped at the base, the two flat sides 
meeting throughout their length 
and forming a distinct ridge; flat 
faces covered with numerous white, 
scurfy scales; seeds 1.2-1.7 mm. 
long, about .5 mm. wide. 
2. Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta Vent.) 
(Fig. IIG). — Seeds bay color, with four or five 
distinct ridges on the back parallel to each other, 
extending over one-half the length of seed and then 
breaking up into a network of ridges which extend 
to the tip ; the two flat faces meet as in Verbena 
hastata but are marked with a few, faint, white 
streaks ; seeds 2-2.7 mm. long, .G-.7 mm. wide. 
ABC 
Fig. 115. Blue Vervain (Verbena 
hastata). A. Top view. B. Bottom 
view. C. Fruit splitting into nut- 
Fig. 117. Large- 
bracted Vervain 
(Verbena brac- 
teosa). Bottom 
view (left), top 
view (right), x 14. 
I'ig. 116. Hoary 
Vervain (Verbena 
stricta). A. Top view. 
B. Bottom view, x 13. 
3. Large-bracted Vervain (Verbena 
bracteosa Michx.) (Fig. 117). — Seeds cinna- 
mon-drab to drab in color, ridged as in Ver- 
bena stricta, white-tipped at the base; the 
two fiat faces meet as in other species and 
are marked throughout with a mass of 
minute, roundish, drab-colored projections ; 
seeds 1.5-2 mm. long, .4-.5 mm. wide. 
