Vervain

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• European vervain
• Vervain
• common verbena
• common vervain
• official vervain
• simpler's-joy
• turkey-grass
• wild verbena
• European Verbena

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Verbena officinalis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Verbenaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is completed by its placement in the genus Verbena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the countries of Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, the species is also well-established in Middle Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Austria. Furthermore, its geographical reach extends to include Belgium as part of its Middle European range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Verbena officinalis is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse topographical settings, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 3000 m AMSL. This species thrives in varied environments, demonstrating a notable ability to colonize both anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), such as disturbed soils and human-modified landscapes, and more natural high-altitude grasslands (Campo de Altitude). Its presence across such a wide elevational range and across both disturbed and natural habitats highlights its resilience and capacity to integrate into multiple ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Altitude

Life history

The life history of Verbena officinalis is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, although its life cycle can be variable depending on environmental conditions. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perennial buds at the soil surface during unfavorable periods, ensuring its survival through seasonal shifts. This growth habit is further defined by its deciduous nature, as it sheds its foliage during dormant phases. Structurally, the plant maintains its life strategy through its hemicryptophyte form, which allows it to persist across multiple growing seasons by sheltering its regenerative organs at the ground level.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Verbena officinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. The plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures to ascend, and maintains an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.47 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.471333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Verbena officinalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, indicating a reliance on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than nitrogen fixation. The plant's vegetative architecture is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, with leaves exhibiting a lanceolate form. Morphologically, the leaves vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, and widths spanning from 0.5 cm to 4 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 2.5 cm and a mean leaf size of 3.7725 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 142 cm²/g, reflecting its structural efficiency in light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.7725 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

142 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Verbena officinalis is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the plant's reproductive cycle. The flowering process occurs via a spike inflorescence, with violet-colored flowers typically blooming from June through August. This reproductive cycle relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome where bees play a significant role. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, its pollination is driven by these insect visitors. Following fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits with an average length of 0.2 cm. The resulting seeds are highly prolific, with each fruit containing more than 1,000 seeds. These seeds are quite small, maintaining a consistent mean length of 1.9 mm and a mean volume of 0.28 mm³. The seed mass is also minimal, averaging approximately 0.0003456875 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00022 g to a maximum of 0.00046 g). Dispersal of the seeds follows an unspecialized pattern, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, meaning they can be spread through human activity. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.2 cm

Inflorescence :

spike

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.9 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00046 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0003456875 g

Seed mass min:

0.00022 g

Seed volume max:

0.28 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Verbena officinalis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Iranian journal of microbiology

Chemicals

Verbena officinalis has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Hastatoside, Ursolic acid, Verbenalin, 4'-Hydroxywogonin.

Flavonoids

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

Hastatoside

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Ursolic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Verbenalin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

4'-Hydroxywogonin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Citral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

apigenin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

(+)-Verbenone

1. Dr. Duke

3 Epiursolic Acid

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-al

1. Planta medica

Activities

Verbena officinalis has 253 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Planta medica
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Biologie aujourd'hui

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
4. Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Antimicrobial

1. Planta medica
2. Biologie aujourd'hui

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Verbena officinalis has 16 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, Escherichia coli, MRSA, SARS-CoV-2, Seed dormancy.

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Planta medica

Escherichia coli

1. Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

Mrsa

1. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, N.J.)

Sars-cov-2

1. Scientifica

Seed dormancy

1. Scientific reports

Vibrio cholerae

1. Iranian journal of microbiology

Yersinia ruckeri

1. Iranian journal of microbiology

Analgesic

1. Planta medica

Anticonvulsant

1. Planta medica

Colorectal cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Verbena officinalis has 19 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 100% butanol (B1), 25:75 (BE2.5) butanol:ethanol mixtures, 50:50 (BE5) butanol:ethanol mixtures, 75:25 (BE7.5) butanol:ethanol mixtures, 80% methanol extracts of the leaves.

100% butanol (b1)

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

25:75 (be2.5) butanol:ethanol mixtures

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

50:50 (be5) butanol:ethanol mixtures

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

75:25 (be7.5) butanol:ethanol mixtures

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

80% methanol extracts of the leaves

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Kar1

1. Scientific reports

Sw

1. Scientific reports

Crude methanolic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Dried aerial part

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Ethyl acetate

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)