Scientific Family
Verbenaceae
Synonyms
Verbena plicata var. degeneri, Verbena plicata var. degeneri Moldenke
Other common names
fan-leaf vervain
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
4 to 16 inches
Riparian
No
Coarse, herbaceous annual to short-lived perennial, taprooted. Stems 4 to 8 from base, branched, densely hairy and sparsely glandular.
Decumbent then ascending, glandular, hairy herb; persistent leaves deeply toothed or incised with whitish veins from below and sharp points on the ends of many lobes, becoming reduced in size moving up the plant. Leaves folded, crumpled or corrugated.
Habitat
Found in sandy or gravelly prairies, flats, ravines, hillsides, canyons, roadsides or disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Spikes solitary and terminal, to 10 inches, flowers at alternate intervals; short, hairy bracts below the flowers are un-lobed, ovate to lance-shaped, 1/8 to 1/4 inch; sepals glandular and hairy; flowers have 5 lobes, 3 upper and 2 lower.
Flower color
Pink to light purple to pale blue
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Elliptic to pointed at the base, 1-1/2 inches long, 1 inch wide; widely spaced intervals on glandular and hairy stems; veins impressed on upper surface, prominent and whitish below, surfaces hairy; leaf stem winged, sometimes clasping.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Palmate
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Nutlets cylindric, with 3 angles, about 1/16 inch long, separating at maturity.
Fruit type
Nutlet