Vervain
Verrvain in rough grassland, Dorset
Flower spikes
Close-up of flower spike
Close-up of corolla - 2 smaller
and 3 larger lobes
Corolla tube with fused sepals and
5 sepal teeth
Opposite, pinnately-lobed, serrate leaves
Square stem
Verbena officinalis
Verbenaceae
June to September
It is found mainly in counties south of the Wash.
It is scattered in the Midlands and the North.
See the BSBI distribution map for Vervain
It grows beside paths and in bare and grassy waste places,
especially on calcareous soils.
It is an archaeophyte, which has been cultivated in the UK
since neolithic times, and was extensively grown in the
Middle Ages as a medicinal plant.
Vervain is a slightly bushy, wiry, perennial herb, growing
up to 75cm.
The flowers are small, up to 5mm, in long, branched
spikes.
The corolla has 5 pale pinkish-lilac unequal lobes with
2 smaller than the other 3.
The corolla tube contains 2 pairs of stamens, with one
pair above the other.
The ovary is at the base of the corolla tube and there is
a single style with a capitate stigma.
The fruit is a cluster of 4 nutlets.
Upper leaves are lanceolate and opposite.
Lower leaves are pinnately lobed, serrate and opposite.
Stems are square, stiff and branched.
It is an ancient sacred herb with a huge number of
reported 'activities', ranging from aphrodisiac to anti-cancer.
Its growth and properties are discussed in this Wikipedia link.
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Verrvain in rough grassland, Dorset
Flower spikes
Close-up of flower spike
Close-up of corolla - 2 smaller
and 3 larger lobes
Corolla tube with fused sepals and
5 sepal teeth
Opposite, pinnately-lobed, serrate leaves
Square stem
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