Vervain

About 250 species, including:
Verbena alata
Verbena bonariensis
Verbena bracteata
Verbena brasiliensis
Verbena canadensis
Verbena carolina
Verbena corymbosa
Verbena elegans
Verbena gracilis
Verbena hastata
Verbena hispida
Verbena incisa
Verbena laciniata
Verbena lasiostachys
Verbena macdougallii
Verbena menthifolia
Verbena officinalis
Verbena peruviana
Verbena phlogiflora
Verbena rigida
Verbena robusta
Verbena runyonii
Verbena simplex
Verbena stricta
Verbena supina
Verbena tenera
Verbena tenuisecta
Verbena teucroides
Verbena urticifolia
Verbena xutha

Vervain (Verbena) is a genus of about 250 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the Verbenaceae. The majority of the species are native to the New World from Canada south to southern Chile, but a few also native in the Old World, mainly in Europe (V. officinalis, V. supina).

The leaves are usually opposite, simple, and in many species hairy, often densely so. The flowers are small, white, pink, purple or blue, with five petals, and borne in dense spikes.

Uses and legends

Vervain is believed to be a galactagogue. Folk legend states that vervain (Common Vervain V. officinalis) was used to staunch Jesus's wounds after his removal from the cross.