ARGENTINIAN VERVAIN
GARDEN VERBENA
Verbena bonariensis
Verbena / Vervain Family Family [Verbenaceae] 
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Verbena / Vervain Family Family [Verbenaceae]
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status
flower
inner
morph
petals
type
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stem
_2009_07_30_frodsham_Kingsley_circ_506p6.jpg)
| 30th July 2009, River Weaver Navigation, Frodsham, Cheshire. | Photo: © RWD |
| Up to 5 feet tall with a cluster of magenta flowers at the tops of thin branched square stems. Fully grown plants have few stem leaves (narrow). |
_2007_08_07_BurscoughBridge_MartinMere_circ_610p4.jpg)
| 7th Aug 2008, Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Several smaller not-yet flowered versions are to the lower left, complete with leaves. |
_2007_08_07_BurscoughBridge_MartinMere_circ_608p2.jpg)
| 7th Aug 2008, Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| The flowers have very long magenta tubes flared at the ends with five lilac-coloured petals. Typical of vervains, there are two stunted shorter satellite constellations below the main multiple-inflorescence. Note the two short bracts beneath the junction of the (square) stems. |
_2010_08_16_Southport_004p2.jpg)
| 16th Aug 2010, Southport, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Short hairs cover the plant. |
_2007_08_07_BurscoughBridge_MartinMere_circ_605p1.jpg)
| 7th Aug 2008, Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| The five lilac petals are slightly notched and have a magenta centre. |
_2007_08_07_BurscoughBridge_MartinMere_circ_609p3.jpg)
| 7th Aug 2008, Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| The flower tubes are hairy, as are the stems. |
_2009_07_30_frodsham_Kingsley_circ_505p5.jpg)
| 30th July 2009, River Weaver Navigation, Frodsham, Cheshire. | Photo: © RWD |
| Several inflorescences have yet to open (the small blue pentagonal pyramids). |
_2010_08_16_Southport_008p4.jpg)
| 16th Aug 2010, Southport Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| Hairs fill the corolla tube preventing access by insects. |
_2007_08_07_BurscoughBridge_MartinMere_circ_610p8.jpg)
| 7th Aug 2008, Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| A young plant has more leaves at the top, all toothed. |
_2007_08_07_BurscoughBridge_MartinMere_circ_659p7.jpg)
| 7th Aug 2008, Martin Mere, Rufford, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
| The lower leaves have much larger teeth. Note the stem hairs. (Ignore the white clover and its associated leaves). |
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Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature : The cluster of two-toned lilac and magenta flowers at the top of a very long few-branched stiff square stems. The jizz of a cluster of such plants is that there is a lot of space between them. Argentinian Vervain is more likely to be found growing in a garden. But there is a very small wild colony near Martin Mere.
The long trumpet-shaped flowers of Argentinian Vervain look very similar in shape and in colour to those of the Butterfly-Bush and other members of the
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 Verbena
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bonariensis
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⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ |
Verbenaceae
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 Verbena (Vervains) |
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Verbena / Vervain Family [Verbenaceae]
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BSBI maps