Scientific Family
Verbenaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Verbena pinetorum
Height
Up to 20 inches
Riparian
Yes
Taprooted plant; deeply lobed leaves are spaced apart on stiff ridged stems, covered with short coarse hairs. Ridged flower stalks are densely flowered spikes of slender white to light purple tubular flowers. Flower face <1/8 inch across.
Mostly erect with opposite, deeply incised leaves; long, slender, leafless spikes of white to light purple flowers; small narrow bracts below each flower and fruit. Stems covered with short, stiff hairs; V. pinetorum is sparsely hairy.
Habitat
Found in foothills and canyons, along railroads, on west and northwest facing slopes on limestone cliffs and talus (loose rock fragments) as well as riparian areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
6000
Flower Characteristics
A dense series of small, white to light purple flowers in 1 to 3 slender spikes per stem; flowers wrapped by a egg-shaped to triangular bract. Flowers have 2-lobed upper lips, 3-lobed lower lips, and hairy, white throats.
Flower color
White to light purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Lower leaves early-withering; stem leaves stemless, not closely spaced, blades deeply toothed (incised-dentate or pinnatifid), narrowly egg-shaped in outline, 3/4 to 2 inches long, surfaces covered with short, coarse hairs, some with gland tips.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Group of 4 densely hairy nutlets that are white and rough on their inner surface.
Fruit type
Nutlet