Verbena caracasana Kunth APNI* Synonyms: Verbena litoralis var. caracasana Briq. APNI*
Description: Sturdy erect herb, 0.4–1(-1.5) m high, mostly much-branched from base; branches quadrangular (with ribbed on angle), glabrous, except for a few sparse hairs on and near nodes.
Leaves petiolate (petiole up to c. 5 mm long), or appearing sessile with lamina decurrent to base; lamina ovate to narrowly elliptic, 3–7 cm long, 0.6–2 cm wide, moderately hairy with simple antrorse hairs; margin bluntly toothed.
Inflorescence terminal, with spikes slender; bracts almost as long as calyx. Calyx 4-toothed, 2.5–3 mm long. Corolla pale purple to pinkish lilac, with ring of white hairs in throat, about 1.5 times as long as calyx; tube c. 2.5–3 mm long.
Mericarps 1.5–2 mm long.
Flowering: Flowers mainly October–March
Distribution and occurrence: An often locally common weed; naturalised in the Central Coast, South Coast, Northern and Southern Tablelands, North Western Slopes and North Far Western Plains. Native of Central and South America. Occurring chiefly on agricultural lands, road sides and river banks regions.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *NFWP
Text by B. J. Conn (2004); (2009)
Taxon concept: B. J. Conn (2004)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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