Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Verbena bonariensis L.
Synonymy:
  • = Verbena bonariensis var. conglomerata Briq. (1904)
Vernacular Name(s):
Purple-top; South American vervain; Tall verbena
 Description

Perennial; stems hairy or scabrid, erect, ± square, to c. 3 m tall. Lvs sessile, 3–17 × 1–6 cm, oblong-lanceolate to ovate, coarsely and irregularly toothed, strigose with bulbous-based hairs denser above than below; veins strongly impressed above; base usually amplexicaul, sometimes subcordate or cordate; apex acute. Infl. much-branched, densely hairy, composed of spikes; spikes closely packed, 0.8–3 cm long at maximum flowering, not elongating much at fruiting, rather stout; fls dense. Bracts ± = or slightly > calyx, lanceolate, hairy, keeled. Calyx c. 3 mm long, hairy, purple, ± glandular-scaly; teeth acuminate or acute, similar to bracts. Corolla tube nearly 2× length of calyx, hairy outside; limb 2–3 mm diam., mauve or purplish, often drying deep blue. Nutlets 1–1.5 mm long, oblong, brown on dorsal surface, longitudinally ribbed, white-papillate on flattened ventral surface.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Bibliography
Ford, M. 2023: Verbena incompta P.W.Michael: an overlooked name for an old weed in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 61(1): 38–48. (Published online: 23 May 2022)
Nesom, G.L. 2010: Taxonomic notes on Verbena bonariensis (Verbenaceae) and related species in the USA. Phytoneuron 12: 1–16.