| Verbena officinalis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Flowering | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Verbenaceae |
| Genus: | Verbena |
| Species: | V. officinalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Verbena officinalis | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Verbena officinalis, the common vervain or common verbena, is a perennial herb native to Europe. It grows up to 70 cm high, with an upright habitus. The lobed leaves are toothed, and the delicate spikes hold clusters of two-lipped mauve flowers.[1]
This plant prefers limey soils; it is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant but perhaps more often for the powerful properties some herbalists ascribe to it. Propagation is by root cuttings or seed. It is widely naturalised outside its native range, for example in North America.
- ^ Tobin, Graeme; Denham, Alison; Whitelegg, Margaret (2016). The Western herbal tradition : 2000 years of medicinal plant knowledge. London, England ; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Singing Dragon. p. 388.