Phyla lanceolata (Lanceleaf Fogfruit) on 7-29-19, #608-32.

Verbenaceae J.St.-Hil.

ver-be-NAY-see-ee
OR
ver-be-NAY-see-eye

The plant family Verbenaceae was named and described by Jean Henri Jaume Saint-Hilaire in Exposition des Familles Naturelles in 1805.

As of 12-31-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 31 genera in this family commonly known as the Verbena or Vervain family. I have identified 4 species of wildflowers in the family on the family farm and a friend’s farm. You can click on the plant’s name under the photos to go to their own pages.

For more information about this family of plants, please click on the links below. The links take you directly to the information about the family. 

PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE
WIKIPEDIA
BRITANNICA

Phyla lanceolata (Lanceleaf Fogfruit) on 7-29-19, #608-34.

I first found this Phyla lanceolata (Lanceleaf Fogfruit) growing among the grass (and other plants) along the edge of the southeast pasture after the hay had been cut on July 29 (2019). I hadn’t noticed it before as with many wildflowers here because maybe the cows had been eating it. I took several photos and later found several colonies of this species in other areas along the back fence.

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Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) on 8-2-19, #609-52.

I first spotted and identified the Verbena hastata (Blue Vervain) on my farm on September 8 in 2018. On July 25 in 2019, I spotted a few while working on a friend pasture north of town. Then, on August 2, also in 2019, I spotted a HUGE plant growing in the ditch along the street in front of the park. I had been watching this plant for a while but I never seemed to have my camera. Normally, the park caretaker keeps the ditch trimmed (or sprayed) so I knew I had to get photos. Finally, I walked down the road and took a few photos. The city park is next to my farm.

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Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain) on 7-16-19, #602-27.

I found a small colony of Verbena stricta (Hoary Vervain) growing on a friend’s farm in 2019. I don’t have these on my farm… Common names include Hoary Vervain, Hoary Verbena, Tall Vervain, Wooly Verbena, and possibly others.

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Verbena urticifolia (White Vervain) on 7-29-19, #608-45.

There are a few Verbena urticifolia (White Vervain) growing on the farm. They can grow fairly tall and their tiny white flowers are hard to photograph… This species is easy to identify. Common names include White Vervain, White Verbena, and possibly others.

That’s all I have plants in this family I have experience with for now. You never know what I will run across…