Verbena
Verbena
Verbena (/vərˈbiːnə/), also known as vervain, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Verbenaceae. It contains about 250 species of annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants. The majority of the species are native to the Americas and Asia.
Etymology
The term "verbena" is derived from the Latin word verbena which was used to refer to any plant used in religious ceremonies. The word is possibly related to the Latin ver meaning "spring" and bene meaning "good".
Description
Verbenas are characterized by their small, five-petaled flowers that are usually tubular in shape. The leaves are usually opposite, simple, and in many species hairy, often densely so. The flowers are small, with five petals, and borne in dense spikes.
Species
Some of the most well-known species of Verbena include:
- Verbena officinalis - Common Vervain
- Verbena hastata - Blue Vervain
- Verbena bonariensis - Purpletop Vervain
- Verbena rigida - Slender Vervain
Uses
Verbenas have been used in traditional medicine for their purported medicinal properties. They are also popular ornamental plants and are used in landscaping and garden design.
Related Terms
- Verbenaceae - The family to which Verbena belongs.
- Perennial plant - A type of plant that lives for more than two years.
- Annual plant - A type of plant that completes its life cycle in one year.
- Herbaceous plant - A plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Verbena
- Wikipedia's article - Verbena
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