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Verbenaceae

Asteridae: Lamiales. The Verbenaceae are herbs, shrubs, or trees comprising about 100 genera and 2,600 species that are further characterized by the common occurrence of quadrangular twigs and/or aromatic herbage. The leaves are nearly always opposite or whorled, mostly simple; stipules are lacking. The flowers are nearly always bisexual and zygomorphic. The calyx is synsepalous and most commonly 5-merous. The corolla is sympetalous, usually unequally 5-lobed, and sometimes strongly 2-lipped. The androecium most commonly consists of 4 didynamous stamens adnate to the corolla tube or perigynous zone, alternate with the lobes. The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil of nearly always 2 carpels, a single terminal or subterminal style, and an unlobed or shallowly lobed ovary, usually with 4 locules (by false septation), each with a single axile ovule. A weakly developed annular nectary disk occurs around the base of the ovary in many species. The fruit is usually a drupe or nutlets.

Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.


Lantana camara. The flowers of this species are only moderately zygomorphic. The herbage is strongly aromatic.
Clerodendrum ugandense, blue glorybower. Notice the strongly zygomorphic flower with tetradynamous stamens and a filamentous style with two stigma lobes arching above them. In the early fruiting stages at the left, the calyx and the unlobed ovary is visible.
Clerodendrum quadriloculare. The flowers of this species have a very long corolla tube.
Vitex rotundifolia, beach vitex. This Hawaiian native species exhibits zygomorphic flowers, tetradynamous stamens, bilobed stigma and terminal style characteristic of the family.
Duranta repens, golden dew drop. The flowers in this species are only weakly zygomorphic. Opposite leaves are apparent.
Holmskioldia sanguinea, cup and saucer. The rotate calyx constitutes the saucer referred to in the common name while the corolla comprises the cup. Notice the two-lipped and strongly zygomorphic nature of the corolla.
Petrea volubilis, sandpaper vine. The common name refers to the scratchy texture of the leaves. The petaloid lavender calyx persists after the darker purple corolla falls away.
Citharexylum spinosum, fiddlewood. Tree from the West Indies with light wood good for little except firewood.

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