Phil Bendle Collection:Verbena officinalis (Vervain)

Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Verbena
Species: V. officinalis
Binomial name: Verbena officinalis
Common name: Common Vervain or Common Verbena, Vervain.

Verbena officinalis is a short-lived perennial herb native to Europe. It grows up to 80 cm high. It has diamond or lance-shaped lobed leaves which are toothed. The upright spikes hold tiny (5 mm) mauve flowers during Nov-March. Its stems are erect and stiff and are square shaped well branched.
This plant prefers alkaline soils and can be found on roadsides and waste places.

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A thick mass of Verbena officinalis growing at 640 MASL  in the North Mavora Lakes.
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The square stems of Verbena officinalis
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Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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