VERBENA SUPINA

Family and Genus:- See- VERBENACEAE

Common Names:- Procumbent vervain

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Verbena (L) Sacred-bough, A name used by the Roman naturalist and

philosopher Pliny for vervain.

Supina (L) Lying flat, extended, supine.

General description:- Annual.

Stems:-

1) 10-40 cm, procumbent, much-branched from the base, strigulose, quadrangular

with rounded angles separated by narrow grooves.

Leaves:-

1) Opposite, 2-4 x 1·5-2·5 cm, triangular, petiolate, 1- to 2-pinnatipartite or -

pinnatisect, strigulose.

Flowers:-

1) Spikes, up to 8 cm in fruit, terminal, shortly pedunculate, solitary, or sometimes

paniculate, not very lax.

2) Bracts, lanceolate, strigulose, usually half as long as the calyx.

3) Corolla, lilac, about as long as the calyx.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, 2-2·5 mm, light brown, with one obtuse longitudinal rib on the back.

Key features:-

1) Nutlets, 2-2·5 mm,

2) Fruiting spikes, up to 8 cm,

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Damp flats by sea and lake shores, seasonally flooded areas, 0-1200 m

Distribution:- Widespread in S. and C. Europe, N.Africa and SW. Asia. Very rare

on Crete known only from a few locations.

Flowering time:- (May-)July-Oct

Photos by:- Steve Lenton