Narrow-leaved Vervain

(Verbena simplex)

 

   

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Narrow-leaved Vervain (Verbena simplex Lehm.)

Identification: Flowers lavender to purple, small, with a fused corolla and 5 free petal lobes. Flowers arranged in a series of elongate, highly branched flower spikes. Only a few flowers open at any one time. Stem and leaves slightly hairy. Leaves elongate, blade-shaped, with a toothed outer margin. Base of leaf tapering, without a distinct petiole. Plant 1 to 2 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout eastern North America.

Habitat: Narrow-leaved Vervain is found in fields and prairies.

Flowering period: May to September.

Similar Species: The elongate, narrow leaves with their bases tapering to the stem in combination with the lavender flowers will identify this species.

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