Veined verbena

Veined verbena

Verbena rigida

Common Name:

Veined verbena

Scientific Name:

Verbena rigida


Alternative common names:

Slender vervain (English)

Description:

Perennial herb, branches erect or ascending from a creeping rhizomes, 0.3- 0.6 m high, hairs on stems rough to touch. Leaves are green to greyish, oblong-ovate or narrowly ovate. 40- 120 mm long, 10- 40 mm wide, glabrous, rigid, sessile, apex acuminate, base subcordate, slightly clasping branch, margin coarsely and sharply serrate, often slightly revolute/ waxy. Flowers are reddish purple, pale lilac or blue- violet in a terminal dense spike, corolla tube 2-3 times as long as calyx inflorescence lax

Additional Information


Where does this species come from?

Brazil and Argentina

What is its invasive status in South Africa?

NEMBA - Category 1b

Where in South Africa is it a problem?

Eastern Cape Province

How does it spread?

Spread slowly by underground roots in dry soils, more quickly in moist soils.

Why is it a problem?

Invades grassland, roadsides, disturbed sites, wetlands and can establish in undisturbed grassland

What does it look like?

Leaves: . Leaves are green to greyish, oblong-ovate or narrowly ovate. 40- 120 mm long, 10- 40 mm wide, glabrous, rigid, sessile, apex acuminate, base subcordate, slightly clasping branch, margin coarsely and sharply serrate, often slightly revolute/ waxy

Flowers: Flowers are reddish purple, pale lilac or blue- violet in a terminal dense spike, corolla tube 2-3 times as long as calyx inflorescence lax, flowers appear from September to July

Fruit/seeds: Schizocarp- dry, 4 lobed with 4 mericarps

Does the plant have any uses?

Cultivated for ornamental

Leave a Reply