Verbena

Verbena (verbenas or vervains) is a genus of annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants with about 250 species in the family Verbenaceae. The majority of the species are native to the New World from Canada south to southern Chile, but some are also native in the Old World, mainly in Europe including Common Vervain (Verbena officinalis) and Verbena supina. Several species in this genus are of natural hybrid origin.

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. Typically some shade of blue, they may also be white, pink, or purple, especially in cultivars.


USES
Some species, hybrids and cultivars of vervain are used as ornamental plants. They are valued in butterfly gardening in suitable climates, attracting Lepidoptera.
Especially Common Vervain (Verbena officinalis) is also grown as a honey plant.
Vervain has longstanding use in herbalism and folk medicine, usually as a herbal tea.


Culture
Verbena has long been associated with divine and other supernatural forces. It was called "tears of Isis" in Ancient Egypt, and later on "Juno's tears". In Ancient Greece, it was dedicated to Eos Erigineia. In the early Christian era, folk legend stated that Common Vervain (V. officinalis) was used to staunch Jesus' wounds after his removal from the cross. It was consequently called "Holy Herb" or (e.g. in Wales) "Devil's bane".

Other legends held it that vervain protects people from vampires, by mixing it in a herbal tea, keeping it near you, or using oil extracted from it in a bath. Vervain flowers are engraved on cimaruta, Italian anti-stregheria charms.

While Common Vervain is not native to North America, it has been introduced there and for example the Pawnee have adopted it as an entheogen enhancer and in oneiromancy, much like Calea zacatechichi is used in Mexico.


Some species
Verbena californica is a species of verbena known by the common names California vervain and Red Hills vervain. This flower is endemic to California where it grows wild only in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Tuolumne County. This is a green herb about half a meter in height with a fuzzy stem and long, grasslike leaves. It bears spike inflorescences of tiny purple flowers. Its habitat is wet woodlands, often with serpentine soils. It is a rare species considered threatened on the state and national levels.

Verbena demissa is a species of plant in the Verbenaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.

Verbena hastata is a plant in the vervain family, Verbenaceae.

Verbena urticifolia (white vervain) is a plant in the vervain family, Verbenaceae.

Verbena × perriana

Verbena phlogiflora

Verbena sphaerocarpa

Verbena stricta – Hoary Vervain

Verbena rigida

Verbena robusta

Verbena runyonii

Verbena cuneifolia

Verbena supina

Verbena alata

Verbena bipinnatifida

Verbena tenuisecta

Verbena teucroides

Verbena × rydbergii

Verbena tenera

Verbena peruviana

Verbena speciosa

Verbena clavata

Verbena corymbosa

Verbena triphylla

Verbena incisa

Verbena laciniata

Verbena simplex – Narrow-leafed Vervain

Verbena lasiostachys

Verbena lilacina

Verbena canadensis

Verbena carolina

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