Verbena (Family Verbenaceae)

Verbenaceae, commonly known as the Verbena Family or Vervain

Family, is a family of mainly tropical flowering plants. It contains

trees, shrubs and herbs. Recent studies have shown that numerous

genera traditionally classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in

Lamiaceae. The new narrowly circumscribed Verbenaceae Family

includes some 35 genera and 1,200 species.

Members of family Verbenaceae are very widely distributed in tem-

perate and tropical regions, but are absent from central and Northern

Eurasia.

Traditional Family Verbenaceae members have been valued for thier

timber (e.g., Tectona grandis, teak), while others are notable orna-

mentals ( e.g., Clerodendrum, Callicarpa, Vitex, Lantana, Verbena).

The new extended family Verbenaceae also includes members cul-

tivated for aroma for flavoring and cookings (e.g., Aloysia triphylla,

lemon verbena).

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