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.
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Lantana camara. The flowers of this species are only moderately zygomorphic. The herbage is strongly aromatic. |
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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. |
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Clerodendrum quadriloculare. The flowers of this species have a very long corolla tube. |
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Vitex rotundifolia, beach vitex. This Hawaiian native species exhibits zygomorphic flowers, tetradynamous stamens, bilobed stigma and terminal style characteristic of the family. |
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Duranta repens, golden dew drop. The flowers in this species are only weakly zygomorphic. Opposite leaves are apparent. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Citharexylum spinosum, fiddlewood. Tree from the West Indies with light wood good for little except firewood. |