Verbenaceae
Verbena

Verbena officinalis L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 20 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Old World to Australia. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome. It is used as a poison and a medicine, has environmental uses and social uses and for fuel and food.

Distribution

Native to:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Assam, Austria, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burundi, Central European Russia, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Corse, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Hainan, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jawa, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Korea, Kriti, Krym, KwaZulu-Natal, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nepal, Netherlands, New South Wales, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northern Provinces, Northern Territory, Northwest European Russia, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Queensland, Romania, Rwanda, Sardegna, Sicilia, Somalia, South Australia, South European Russia, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Victoria, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Western Australia, Western Sahara, Xinjiang, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Alabama, Amsterdam-St.Paul Is., Arizona, Azores, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, California, Canary Is., Cape Verde, Chile Central, Colorado, Connecticut, Cuba, Delaware, District of Columbia, Dominican Republic, Florida, Free State, Georgia, Great Britain, Guatemala, Haiti, Indiana, Ireland, Kentucky, Louisiana, Madeira, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Michigan, Mississippi, New Caledonia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Niger, Niue, North Carolina, Oman, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode I., South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Tristan da Cunha, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Accepted Infraspecifics

Classification

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Publications

POWO follows these authorities in accepting this name:

  • Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192.
  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Castroviejo, S. & al. (eds.) (2010). Flora Iberica 12: 1-650. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid.
  • Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.
  • Deng, Y.F., Li, Z.Y., Wang, Q. & Peng, H. (2020). Flora of Pan-Himalaya 46: 1-570. Science Press, Beijing. Cambridge University Press.
  • Dimopoulos, P., Raus, T., Bergmeier, E., Constantinidis, T., Iatrou, G., Kokkini, S., Strid, A., & Tzanoudakis, D. (2013). Vascular plants of Greece. An annotated checklist: 1-372. Botanic gardens and botanical museum Berlin-Dahlem, Berlin and Hellenic botanical society, Athens.
  • Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Gremmen, N. & Halbertsma, R.L. (2009). Alien plants and their impact on Tristan da Cunha 2: 1-307. Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP).
  • Hassler, M. & Muer, T. (2022). Flora Germanica: alle Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands in Text und Bild 2: 865-1712. Verlag Regionalkultur, Uberstadt-Weiher.
  • Knapp, W.M. & Naczi, R.F.C. (2021). Vascular plants of Maryland, USA. A comprehensive account of the state's botanical diversity. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 113: 1-151.
  • Komiljon, T., Natalya, B., Avazbek, B., Dilnoza, A., Ziyoviddin, Y., Deng, T. & Sun, H. (2020). Flora of the Dzhizak Province, Uzbekistan: 1-523. China Forestry Publishing House.
  • Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.
  • Lazkov, G.A. & Sultanova, B.A. (2011). Checklist of vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan. Norrlinia 24: 1-166.
  • MacKee, H.S. (1994). Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie, ed. 2: 1-164. Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris.
  • Mehboob-ur-Rahman (2012). Wild plants of Swat, Pakistan 1: 1-281. Department of botany, govt. Jehanzeb post graduate college.
  • Mirek, Z., Piękoś-Mirkowa, H., Zając, A. & Zając, M (2020). Vascular plants of Poland an annotated checklist: 1-526. W. Szafer institute of botany, Polish academy of sciences, Krakow, Poland.
  • Muer, T., Sauerbier, H. & Cabrara Calixto, F. (2020). Die Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Madeiras: 1-792. Verlag und Versandbuchhandlung Andreas Kleinsteuber.
  • Nesom, G.L. (2010). A new species of Verbena (Verbenaceae) from Northeastern Mexico and an overview of the Verbena officinalis group. Phytoneuron 2010-13: 1-13.
  • Patzelt, A. & al. (2020). Studies in the flora of Arabia: XXXIV. Sixty new records from the Sultanate of Oman. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 77: 413-437.
  • Rajbhandari, K.R., Rai, S.K. & Chhetri, R. (2022). A Handbook of the Flowering Plants of Nepal 4: 1-522. Department of Plant Resources, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • Schäfer, H. (2021). Flora of the Azores a field guide: 1-445. Margraf Publishers GmbH.
  • Stace, C. (2019). New Flora of the British Isles ed. 4: 1-1266. C & M Floristics.
  • Van Heurck, H. & De Beucker, J.I. (1861). Antwerpsche Analytische Flora 1: 1-192. Drukkerij der weduwe Jos. Van Ishoven, Antwerpen.
  • de Salas, MF, Baker, ML (2022). A Census of the Vascular Plants of Tasmania, including Macquarie Island: 1-161. Tasmanian Herbarium, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart. https://flora.tmag.tas.gov.au/resources/census/.

Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

  • Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Flora Zambesiaca

  • F.T.E.A., Verbenaceae: 6 (1992).
  • Fl. Europaea 3 : 123 (1972).
  • Fl. Iraq 4 : 651 (1980)
  • Fl. Turkey 7 : 33, t. 117/8–10 (1982).
  • Meikle, Fl. Cyprus: 1251 (1985).

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • (2020). https://bsbi.org/archaeophytes. epublication.
  • Chang, C.S., Kim, H. & Chang, K.S. (2014). Provisional checklist of vascular plants for the Korea peninsula flora (KPF): 1-660. DESIGNPOST.
  • Gremmen, N. & Halbertsma, R.L. (2009). Alien plants and their impact on Tristan da Cunha 2: 1-307. Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP).
  • Ilunga wa Ilunga, E. & Meerts, P. (2024). Flore d'Afrique Centrale (Zaïre - Rwanda - Burundi), n.s., Verbenaceae: 1-57. Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Meise.
  • Komiljon, T., Natalya, B., Avazbek, B., Dilnoza, A., Ziyoviddin, Y., Deng, T. & Sun, H. (2020). Flora of the Dzhizak Province, Uzbekistan: 1-523. China Forestry Publishing House.
  • Kotiya, A., Solanki, Y. & Reddy, G.V. (2020). Flora of Rajasthan: 1-769. Rajasthan state biodiversity board.
  • Lazkov, G.A. & Sultanova, B.A. (2011). Checklist of vascular plants of Kyrgyzstan. Norrlinia 24: 1-166.
  • MacKee, H.S. (1994). Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie, ed. 2: 1-164. Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris.
  • Nesom, G.L. (2010). A new species of Verbena (Verbenaceae) from Northeastern Mexico and an overview of the Verbena officinalis group. Phytoneuron 2010-13: 1-13.
  • Nowak, A. & Nobis, M. (eds.) (2020). Illustrated Flora of Tajikistan and adjacent areas 2: 367-766. PAN, Polish academy of sciences.
  • O'Leary, N., Múlgura, M.E. & Morrone, O. (2010). Revisión taxonómica de las especies del género Verbena (Verbenaceae). II: serie Verbena. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 97: 365-424.
  • Patzelt, A. & al. (2020). Studies in the flora of Arabia: XXXIV. Sixty new records from the Sultanate of Oman. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 77: 413-437.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Webb, C.J., Sykes, W.R & Garnock-Jones, P.J. (1988). Flora of New Zealand 4: 1-1365. R.E.Owen, Government Printer, Wellington.
  • Zervous, S., Raus, T. & Yannitsaros, A. (2009). Additons to the flora of the island of Kalimnos (SE Aegean, Greece). Willdenowia 39: 165-177.

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, (2000) Author: by M. Thulin [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • Bak. in Flora of Tropical Africa 5: 286 (1900).
  • Franco in Fl. Europaea 3: 123 (1972).
  • L., Sp. Pl.: 20 (1753).
  • Meikle, Fl. Cyprus: 1251 (1985).
  • Ross-Craig, Drawings Brit. Pl. 23, t. 38 (1966).
  • Townsend in Fl. Iraq 4: 651 (1980)
  • Townsend in Fl. Turkey 7: 33, t. 117/8–10 (1982).

Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

  • Allen, D., Bilz, M., Leaman, D.J., Miller, R.M., Timoshyna, A., & Window, J. (2014). European Red List of medicinal plants. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg 10:907382.
  • Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R., & Celis, M. (eds.). (2020). Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia. v1.1. Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Dataset/Checklist. https://doi.org/10.15472/7avdhn
  • Burkill HM. (1995). The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vols. 1-3. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vols 1-3.
  • Diazgranados et al. (2021). Catalogue of plants of Colombia. Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia project. In prep.
  • Diazgranados, M., Allkin, B., Black N., Cámara-Leret, R., Canteiro C., Carretero J., Eastwood R., Hargreaves S., Hudson A., Milliken W., Nesbitt, M., Ondo, I., Patmore, K., Pironon, S., Turner, R., Ulian, T. (2020). World Checklist of Useful Plant Species. Produced by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity.
  • FPI (2021). Food Plants International. https://fms.cmsvr.com/fmi/webd/Food_Plants_World?homeurl=https://foodplantsinternational.com/plants/
  • GBIF.org (2021). GBIF species matching tool. https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup
  • GRIN (2021). Germplasm Resources Information Network from the United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.ars-grin.gov/
  • Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humbodlt (2014). Plantas alimenticias y medicinales nativas de Colombia. 2567 registros, aportados por: Castellanos, C. (Contacto del recurso), Valderrama, N. (Creador del recurso, Autor), Bernal, Y. (Autor), García, N. (Autor). http://i2d.humboldt.org.co/ceiba/resource.do?r=ls_colombia_magnoliophyta_2014
  • Medicinal Plant Names Services (MPNS) v.10 (2021); http://mpns.kew.org/
  • PROTA (2021). Plants Resources of Tropical Africa. https://prota4u.org/database/
  • Willis, K.J. (ed.) (2017). State of the World’s Plants 2017. Report. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other Data

Other Kew resources that provide information on this taxon:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Sep 1, 2020 Christenhusz, M.J.M. [MC9017] United Kingdom K001400635 Yes
Jan 1, 2011 Phuong, V.X., et al. [HNK 289] Vietnam K000249861 Yes
Jan 1, 2011 Day, C.D. [646] Türkiye K000341577 Yes
May 7, 1980 Krauss [151] South Africa K000379388 Unknown Type Material Yes
Licent, É. [2378] China K004298763 Yes
Xiao Bai-Zhong [3549] China K004298768 Yes
Fang, W.P. [4780] China K004298789 Yes
Xiao Bai-Zhong [4117] China K004298769 Yes
Fang, W.P. [5050] China K004298794 Yes
Fang, W.P. [7260] China K004298774 Yes
Sellow [s.n.] Brazil K000470502 Isotype Yes
Tedd, H.G. [2020] Greece K004298400 Yes
Bally, P.R.O. [s.n.] Greece K004298380 Yes
Sellow [s.n.] Brazil K000470503 Unknown Type Material Yes
Guymer, D.A. [235] K004298387 Yes
Fang, W.P. [4928] China K004298777 Yes
Tedd, H.G. [426] Greece K004298391 Yes
Mesfin, T.; Kagnew, G.Y. [1618-1652] Ethiopia K004299118 Yes
Fang, W.P. [7171] China K004298775 Yes
Yasuda, K. [2421] Japan K004298770 Yes
Tsang, W.T. [[134]] China K004298793 Yes
Oldham, R. [17] China K004298765 Yes
Ducloux [528] China K004298760 Yes
Tsang, W.T. [753LU17502] China K004298772 Yes
s.coll. [Cat. no. 1825] K001114315 Unknown Type Material Yes
Lindley [s.n.] Mexico K000470570 Unknown Type Material Yes
Vine, R.S. [109] Greece K004298381 Yes
Harris, G.W.; Turrill, W.B. [190] Greece K004298388 Yes
Cavalerie, J. [7904] China K004298778 Yes
Lowe, R.T. [s.n.] Cabo Verde K001134631 Yes
Mobbs, R.H. [P202] China K004298771 Yes
s.coll. [Cat. no. 1825] India K001114316 Unknown Type Material Yes
Jozipovie, M. [33] Croatia K004298396 Yes
Forrest, G. [11980] China K004298797 Yes
Fang, W.P. [9629] China K004298786 Yes
Gilbert, M.G.; Getachew, A. [2840] Ethiopia K004299114 Yes
Wilford, C. [971] K004298759 Yes
Schneider, C.K. [632] Bulgaria K004298384 Yes
Oldham, R. [619] Japan K004298753 Yes
Burger, W. [2213] Ethiopia K004299117 Yes
s.coll. [CLD90-904] China K004298781 Yes
Stainton, J.D.A. [7744] Greece K004298378 Yes
Hancock, W. [315] China K004298762 Yes
Wickens, G.E. [1893] Sudan K004299082 Yes
Hu, S.Y. [5732] Hong Kong K004298780 Yes
Tsiang, Y. [5399] China K004298796 Yes
Ryding, O. [1117] Ethiopia K004299090 Yes
Giles, J.J. [111] United Kingdom K001419099 Yes
Mueller, F. [s.n.] United States K000759916 Syntype Yes
de Wilde, W.J.J.O.; de Wilde-Duyfjes, B.E.E. [7086] Ethiopia K004299088 Yes
Wisniewski, T. [1055] Bulgaria K004298390 Yes
Henry; [Millet] [788] China K004298761 Yes
[R.O.] [741] Japan K004298754 Yes
Wallich, N. [Cat. no. 1825] Burma K001114311 Unknown Type Material Yes
Vidal, S. [503] Philippines K004298914 Yes
Mitchell [s.n.] K004298984 Yes
Lempreu [s.n.] K004298646 Yes
Griffiths; Lemann [199] K004298824 Yes
Wallich, N. [1830] Nepal K004298878 Yes
Ringius, H.H. [198] Sweden K004298321 Yes
Friis, I.; Gilbert, M.G.; Rasmussen, F.; Vollesen, K.B. [1116] Ethiopia K004299087 Yes
Gilliat-Smith, B. [794] Bulgaria K004298383 Yes
Fang, W.P. [5588] China K004298792 Yes
Griffith Tedd, H. [2020] Greece K004298401 Yes
s.coll. [020] China K004298800 Yes
Collenette [409] Somalia K004299108 Yes
Cope, T.A. [RBG 237] United Kingdom K000914326 Yes
Hu, S.Y.; Kong, Y.C. [036] China K004298767 Yes
Monberg [93] China K004298766 Yes
Hu, S.Y. [10350] Hong Kong K004298783 Yes
Gandoger, M. [s.n.] Greece K004298385 Yes
Mooney, H.F. [4793] Ethiopia K004299086 Yes
Burger, W. [545] Ethiopia K004299116 Yes
Fang, W.P. [8972] China K004298785 Yes
Glover, P.E.; Gilliland [920] Somalia K004299103 Yes
Fang, W.P. [1680] China K004298773 Yes
Gillies [s.n.] Argentina K000193649 Unknown Type Material Yes
Hartweg [175] Mexico K000470569 Holotype Yes
Fang, W.P. [5201] China K004298776 Yes
Wallich, N. [Cat. no. 1825] Nepal K001114313 Unknown Type Material Yes
Platt, J.W.O. [611] Greece K004298402 Yes
Hu, S.Y. [13821] Hong Kong K004298784 Yes
Fang, W.P. [3661] China K004298791 Yes
Collenette [409] Somalia K004299107 Yes
Mooney, H.F. [6640] Ethiopia K004299091 Yes
[Greceise] [554] Greece K004298398 Yes
Alston, A.H.G.; Sandwith, N.Y. [2786] Albania K004298392 Yes
Jozipovie, M. [s.n.] Croatia K004298376 Yes
Gilbert, E.F. [186] Ethiopia K004299115 Yes
Wallich, N. [Cat. no. 1825] India K001114314 Unknown Type Material Yes
Hu, S.Y. [12688] Hong Kong K004298782 Yes
Bally, P.R.O. [B11086] Somalia K004299106 Yes
Newbould, J.G.B. [898] Somalia K004299104 Yes
Faurie [517] Japan K004298756 Yes
Chung, H.H. [1341] K004298752 Yes
Jozipovie, M. [32] Croatia K004298377 Yes
Lei, C.I. [942] China K004298790 Yes
Wickens, G.E. [3000] Sudan K004299083 Yes
[Garain] [555] K004298394 Yes
Bally, P.R.O. [B11086/A] K004299105 Yes
Gilliat-Smith, B. [892] Bulgaria K004298386 Yes
Tedd, H.G. [2020] Greece K004298399 Yes
s.coll. [2640] K004298757 Yes
Friis, I.; Aweke, G.; Rasmussen, F.; Vollesen, K.B. [2037] Ethiopia K004299089 Yes
Atchley, S.C. [350] Greece K004298393 Yes
s.coll. [L298] Greece K004298379 Yes
s.coll. [11946] K004298755 Yes
Atchley, S.C. [839] Greece K004298395 Yes
Gillett, J.B. [4721] Somalia K004299109 Yes
Hummel, D. [3187] China K004298749 Yes
Platt, J.W.O. [611] Greece K004298403 Yes
Fang, W.P. [9474] China K004298788 Yes
Wang, Z. [870010] China K004298801 Yes
Schweinfurth, G.; Riva, D. [1116] Eritrea K004299084 Yes
Chow [[66]] China K004298798 Yes
Faurie [2549] Japan K004298758 Yes
Mooney, H.F. [5770] Ethiopia K004299085 Yes
Wisniewski, T.; Sliwinska, H. [1057] Bulgaria K004298375 Yes
Hu, S.Y. [7785] Hong Kong K004298779 Yes
Schindler, A.K. [164] K004298764 Yes
Oldham, R. [67] K004298751 Yes
Wang, Y.C. [44] China K004298787 Yes
Harris, G.W. [391] Greece K004298389 Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] Ethiopia K004299092 Yes
Wallich, N. [Cat. no. 1825] India K001114312 Unknown Type Material Yes
Haussknecht, C. [s.n.] Greece K004298404 Yes
s.coll. [440] Hong Kong K004298750 Yes
Xiulan, H.; Xingwu, W. [s.n.] China K004298799 Yes
Chu, K.L. [389] China K004298795 Yes
Ingoldby, C.M. [510] K004298382 Yes
Gillies, J. [s.n.] Argentina K000193650 Unknown Type Material Yes
s.coll. [s.n.] K004298397 Yes

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0