Family: Verbenaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 20 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Verbena
Vegetable: False
Observations: Old World to Australia
Description
Official vervain, known scientifically as Verbena officinalis, is a perennial herb that belongs to the Verbenaceae family. It enjoys a rich history of being recognized and utilized across a broad geographical range that extends from the Old World regions, which include parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, to the vast landscapes of Australia. This wide distribution underscores its adaptability to various climates and environmental conditions.
Verbena officinalis, first described in the seminal botanical work “Species Plantarum” by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, stands as a testament to its longstanding significance in herbal and botanical studies. The plant typically features slender, erect stems that can grow to notable heights, adorned with delicate, opposite leaves that present a serrated or lobed appearance.
The flowering aspect of Official vervain is particularly distinctive. It produces small, pale-purple or lilac flowers, which are arranged in slender spikes. These blooms are subtle yet charming, contributing to the plant’s understated appeal. Beyond its aesthetic value, Official vervain has been renowned for its historical and contemporary applications, particularly in traditional medicine and as a ritualistic herb.
In herbal medicine, Verbena officinalis has been celebrated for its purported benefits, which include alleviating headaches, digestive problems, and anxiety. The plant’s astringent and anti-inflammatory properties are particularly prized. Moreover, its use as a sacred plant in ancient cultures has imbued it with a layer of mystique and reverence.
Overall, Verbena officinalis stands out not only for its botanical characteristics but also for its extensive use and cultural significance across various regions of the world. Its journey from the Old World to Australia highlights the global appreciation and adaptability of this modest yet remarkable herb.
Common Names
Deu: eisenkraut, gewöhnliches eisenkraut, echtes eisenkraut
Eng: herb of the cross, vervain, common verbena, common vervain, official vervain, simpler’s-joy, turkey-grass, wild verbena
Dan: jernurt, læge-jernurt
Est: harilik raudürt
Nld: ijzerhard
Nno: jernurt
Nob: jernurt
Swe: järnört, rohtoverbena, läkeverbena
Fin: rohtoverbena
Ces: sporýš lékařský
Fra: verveine officinale, verveine sauvage
Cym: briw’r march, cas-gan-gythraul, derwen fendigaid, derwen y ddaear ferfaen, gwaedlys gwyn, hudlys, llys yr hudol, llysiau’r hudol, y ferfain
En: Official vervain, Wild verbena, Vervain, Turkey-grass, Common verbena, Common vervain, Simpler’s-joy, Herb of the cross, Holy herb, Pigeon’s grass, European verbena, Herb-of-the-Cross, European Vervain, Kumatsuzura, Ma bian cao, Pigeon’s-grass
Ab: Europese verbena, Адәыҳәымсаг
Ar: رعي الحمام الطبي
Hy: Աղավնիճ դեղատու
Az: Dərman minaçiçəyi
Eu: Berbena
Be: Вербена лекавая
Bg: Върбинка
Ca: Berbena, Berbera, Herba berbera
Zh: Ma bian cao, 鐵馬鞭, 馬鞭草, 马鞭草
Cs: Sporýš lékařský
Da: Jernurt, Læge-Jernurt
Nl: Ijzerhard
Et: Harilik raudürt
Fi: Rohtorautayrtti, Rohtoverbena
Fr: Verveine officinale, Herbe aux sorcières, Herbe sacrée, Veine de Vénus, Verveine sauvage, Verveine
Gl: Verxebán
De: Echtes Eisenkraut, Eisenkraut, Gewöhnliches Eisenkraut, Eisenbart
He: ורבנה רפואית
Hu: Közönséges vasfű
Is: Járnurt
It: Erba sacra, Verbena comune, Vermena, Verbena, Erba di San Giovanni
Ja: Kumatsuzura
Kk: Дәрілік нарқайсар
Rw: Umugosora
Ko: 마편초
Lb: Eisekraut
Mk: Врбинка
Gv: Vervine
Nb: Jernurt
Nn: Jernurt
Fa: وربنا آفیسینالیس
Pl: Koszyczki Najswiętsżej Marii Panny, Werbena pospolita
Pt-br: Planta-da-sorte, Ferraria, Erva-de-ferro, Verbena
Ru: Вербена лекарственная
Sk: Železník lekársky
Es: Curasana, Verbena
Sv: Järnört, Rohtoverbena, Läkeverbena
Zh-tw: 馬鞭草
Zh-hant: 馬鞭草
Uk: Вербена лікарська
Uz: Tizimgul
Cy: Y ferfain, Briw’r March, Cas-Gan-Gythraul, Derwen Fendigaid, Derwen y Ddaear Ferfaen, Gwaedlys Gwyn, Hudlys, Llys yr Hudol, Llysiau’r Hudol
Synonyms
- Verbena officinalis var. latiloba (Sennen)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Assam (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baleares (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- China Southeast (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- East Himalaya (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hainan (native)
- Hungary (native)
- India (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Italy (native)
- Japan (native)
- Jawa (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Korea (native)
- Kriti (native)
- Krym (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Libya (native)
- Mauritania (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Nansei-shoto (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- New South Wales (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Northern Territory (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Philippines (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Queensland (native)
- Romania (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Somalia (native)
- South Australia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Taiwan (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Tasmania (native)
- Thailand (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Uganda (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Victoria (native)
- Vietnam (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Western Australia (native)
- Western Sahara (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
- Arizona (introduced)
- Azores (introduced)
- Bermuda (introduced)
- Bolivia (introduced)
- Brazil South (introduced)
- Brazil Southeast (introduced)
- Brazil West-Central (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Cape Verde (introduced)
- Chile Central (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- Florida (introduced)
- Free State (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Guatemala (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Louisiana (introduced)
- Madeira (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Mexico Northeast (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southeast (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Mississippi (introduced)
- New Caledonia (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Niger (introduced)
- Niue (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Oman (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- South Carolina (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Texas (introduced)
- Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Jul 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 17, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 17, 2021 by Gianni Del Bufalo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 3, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Oct 20, 2022 by Acosta García Isabel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 3, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 20, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 22, 2021 by español Pilar (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 3, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jun 14, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Marie PAGNIER (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 19, 2022 by stéphane COLLE (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 3, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 5, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Philippe Bissières (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 19, 2019 by del dem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 20, 2022 by Acosta García Isabel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 10, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 4, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Sep 12, 2020 by Nathalie Potel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 29, 2022 by Didier (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 29, 2022 by Didier (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 3, 2019 by Didier Thiébaud (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Dec 16, 2016 by René Bernt (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 30, 2019 by García Ana (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2925529)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:330554-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Verbena officinalis L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 5
Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’, ‘oct’]
Soil nutriments: 7