Upper leaves are smaller. Scientific Name and Common Name; Kingdom: Plantae – Plants Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class It is used for sore throat, and for diseases of the respiratory tract, such as coughs, asthma and whooping cough, menopausal complaints and irregular menstruation, gout, metabolic disorders, chlorosis and edema. This is an American member which was used by the Native Americans and adopted by the Colonial physicians. Some sources treat S. indica and, or S. cayennensis as synonyms, but these will treated as discrete species after USDA et al. Blue Vervain is most potent when used fresh. Common name: Blue vervain Latin name: Verbena hastata Affinities: Nervous system, digestive system, reproductive system Actions: Nervine tonic, anxiolytic, antispasmodic, sedative, diaphoretic, hepatic, digestive bitter, nervine trophorestorative, nootropic, anticonvulsive Specific indications: Anxiety, fatigue, neck and shoulder tension, sharp shooting pains, headaches, muscle tension and spasms, overactive … OTHER NAME(S): Blue Vervain, Common Verbena, Common Vervain, Eisenkraut, Enchanter's Plant, European Vervain, Herb of Grace, Herb of the Cross, Herba … At any rate, they are two completely different plants. Noteworthy Characteristics. Names: The genus name Verbena is from the Latin and now refers to the Vervain plant. The species name, hastata, refers to the leaf which has a spear shape with a basal lobe that faces out like a halberd. Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Preferred Scientific Name. Blue Vervain Scientific name : Verbena hastata is the North American species used, Verbana officinalis is the European species. Verbena hastata, commonly called blue vervain, is a Missouri native perennial which commonly occurs in wet meadows, wet river bottomlands, stream banks, slough peripheries, fields and waste areas throughout the State except for the Ozark region where it is uncommon (Steyermark). Tinctures can be made from the fresh plant. It has a slender, upright form with reddish-green coloured, rough-haired stems. It has purple flowers and simple leaves with double-serrate margins. Blue Vervain Capsules. The active phyto-constituents of blue vervain are adenosine, aucubin, beta-carotene, caffeic-acid, citral, hastatoside, lupeol, ursolic-acid, verbenalin, verbenin.Researchers have discovered many therapeutic activities of these constituents including cellular apoptosis or anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, antispasmodic, diuretic, and anti-parasitic. In this article I'll give you a little background information, explain the different uses of the herb and 4 different ways to take it to get its healing powers. English: blue vervain; Brazilian vervain; common verbena; seashore vervain Intricate vein pattern. The Romans called it verbena and used it to treat a variety of illnesses. Vegetable Capsules 500mg Each ( Dr Sebi Recommended ) What is Blue Vervain? See the photo below. Infusion: Take 2 to 4 gm up to 3 times per day. Tincture: Take 5 to 10 ml up to 3 times per day. However, the primary parts used used medicinally by modern herbalists are the aerial parts of the plant. The genus Stachytarpheta contains about 65 species, mostly from the American tropics; many are weedy throughout the tropics and subtropics. Harvest the aerial parts in full flower. She also lists many medicinal uses. Densmore (Ref. It grows from a rhizomatous root system. The 5-petaled, violet-blue flowers of blue vervain are borne on unique branching spikes. Blue Vervain. See Reference List for details. Identification booklet for most of the flowering forbs and small flowering shrubs of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. V. simplex is on the state's Special Concern List. The root can be collected all year round. (Moore) Text and photos are by G. D. Bebeau unless otherwise credited. Notes: Blue Vervain is indigenous to the Garden; Eloise Butler catalogued it on Sept, 6, 1907. And of course, being the only member of its genus in much of its range, it is also simply known as "vervain" locally. is for Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), Swedish botanist and the developer of the binomial nomenclature of modern taxonomy. Common Name: Blue Vervain: Scientific name: Verbena Hastata: Bloom Time: Mid-Summer, July/August: Bloom Duration: Long, 4 weeks or more: Color: Dark Blue / Purple: Bloom Size: Tall spiked flowers at the top of the plant. Health Benefits of Blue Vervain. The extant Verbenas are: V. hastata, Blue or Swamp Vervain; V. simplex, Narrow-leaved Vervain; V. stricta, Hoary Vervain; V. urticifolia, White Vervain; and V. bracteata, Large-bracted Vervain. The flowers are similar but of a different shade of color. There are 4 stamens - 2 pairs of unequal length - with yellowish anthers, and a green style, all not exserted from the corolla. (PDR) Liquid extract: Take 2 to 4 ml daily. American varieties are found mainly on moist prairies and meadows, low open woodlands, strea… It was widely cultivated as a medicinal herb in medieval gardens and has escaped often. "www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org". No information is available on chromosome numbers of Stachytarpheta spp. Blue Vervain gets its name from the Celtic word ferfaen, which means “to drive away” (fer) and “stone” (faen). However, the scientific name of this well-known herb is Verbena hastata and is also known by the name swamp verbena. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Throughout North America, you can find small patches of purple flowering plants commonly known as blue vervain. In early times the plant was used for afflictions of the bladder. See notes below on the origin of Verbena. The common name "blue vervain" is also sometimes used, but also refers to V. hastata. However, the scientific name of this well-known herb is Verbena hastata and is also known by the name swamp verbena. Thank you! Also called Herb of Grace, Herb of the Cross and Swamp Verbena, this water-loving perennial reputedly invokes protection from snakes and other misfortune if worn or carried as a charm. (1998). blue vervain; Other Scientific Names. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. Want to re-post this article? (PDR). It is also used externally as a gargle for cold symptoms and for diseases of the oral and pharyngeal cavity. The plant is native to wet meadows, wet river bottomlands, stream banks, slough peripheries, fields and waste areas of Americas, the Mediterranean region and the Near East. The author name for the plant classification, 'L.' Blue vervain is a flowering plant that belongs to the vervain family, Verbenaceae. 2nd photo - The individual flowers open from the bottom to the top of the spike. Other common names: False Vervain Other scientific names: Verbena paniculata, Verbena pinnatifida French names: Vervaine hastée Family: Vervain Family (Verbenaceae) Group: Vervains Flowers: Summer; Blue/Violet; 5 parts (petals) Leaves: Opposite/Whorled, Simple, Toothed Height: 75-100 cm (29-39 in) Habitat: Fields and Open Areas, Wet Areas Herbal Materia Medica by Michael Moore This is one of the most important and wonderful herbs on earth and has tremendous healing powers. Homeopathic Uses: The herb is used for bruising and cerebral convulsions. (Ref. 2nd photo - The underside is paler color with many fine hair, especially on the veins and ribs. Both are considered interchangeable in their properties. Below: 1st photo - a smaller upper leaf with its short stalk. The alternate common name of Swamp Vervain refers to a common habitat of this plant being stream and pond banks. Vervain should not be used during pregnancy. Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, Inc. Hope that helps! #7) states that the name vervain is derived from the Celtic ferfaen, that is from fer (to drive away) and from faen (a stone). blue vervain swamp verbena This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below.This plant may be known by one or more common names in … These nutlet pods are twice the size of those of White Vervain, V. urticifolia. This article is copyrighted by Ital is Vital, 2020. 0 0. Throughout North America, you can find small patches of purple flowering plants commonly known as blue vervain. Likely native to the Mediterranean region, vervain grows wild throughout much of Europe and North Africa, as well as in China and Japan. A total aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Vervain hastata was found to have sedative properties in experiments involving male rats. The American Blue Vervain (V. hastata) is a perennial native to the northern US and Canada. PDR for Herbal Medicines by Joerg Gruenwald, PhD etal. The seed are edible when roasted and is ground into a powder (although they are somewhat bitter to taste). The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. Verbena officinalis is the scientific name of vervain, while blue vervain is Verbena hastata. Source(s): botany degree. The information provided here are for educational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. The reproductive parts are all enclosed in the corolla tube. The plant with the scientific name “Verbena hastata” is very strong against natural hardness, it is resistant to life in dry climates so it is regarded as a reliable herb. Blue vervain had many uses in First Nation’s culture as food and medicine. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. It may be dried and stored in a cool, dark, place for use in teas but it will not have the potency of fresh Blue Vervain. Verbena litoralis Kunth; Preferred Common Name. It is found throughout the lower 48 states and in the lower Canadian Provinces except Alberta. Though it is mostly found in North America, it has been used for its medicinal properties throughout the world and ages. Visit our guidelines. Stems are green to greenish-red, with 4 angles and occasionally with fine hair. The underside has fine whitish hair with longer hair on the main veins. Blue Vervain Dosage: Infusion – Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 – 3 tsp. Flowers open individually on the densely packed spike from bottom to top with only a few open at one time on each spike. Below: The lance shape lower leaf with the outward facing base lobes - from this leaf design like the halberd of a sword comes the species name hastata. Its leaves are oppositely arranged, lance-shaped, and on short petioles with large serrations along the edge. Verbena was the Roman name for altar plants in general and in particular V. officinalis. Leaves are opposite, lance-like with coarse teeth, about 4 - 6x longer than wide, pointed tips and tapering at the base to a short stalk. Blue Vervain is a perennial wildflower species that grows about 1.5 m in height. Blue vervain is a plant that is resistant to drought. Blue Vervain is a native erect biennial or short-lived perennial that grows to 40 inches tall on square stems with branching near the top. The individual flowers have blue to violet colored corollas (sometimes whitish) forming a tube; they are quite small, 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide, 5-parted; the calyx of the flower tube is hairy with five pointed lobes that have violet tips; and the petals have rounded lobes spreading outward when the flower opens. Blue vervain, Verbena hastata. Chloroform, methanol and petroleum ether extracts of the aerial parts of vervain have anti-inflammatory activity in vivo as determined using the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model. Vervain, or Verbena as it can be known, is native to South East Europe and was likely introduced here in Neolithic times, so has been long naturalised. Lower leaves will usually have a lobe at the base facing outward like the halberd of a sword handle. Scientific name: Verbena hastate Bloom Period: July/September Height: 3-6 feet Soil Type: Wet to moist soils Habitat: B Sun: Full sun to part shade Michigan Native: Yes. Habitat: Blue Vervain is found in moist places - stream banks, pond edges, meadows and moist prairies. Comparisons: The differences between this plant and Hoary Vervain, V. stricta, are that V. stricta has elliptical leaves and long hairs on the stem. There can be auxiliary flower stalks rising from the upper leaf axils. #W2). 2nd photo - The calyx of the flower tube is hairy with five pointed lobes that have violet tips. The older physicians used the root primarily, which they considered stronger. Source Common Name Blue Vervain (Swamp Vervain) Scientific Name Verbena hastata L. Plant Family Verbena (Verbenaceae) Habitat types: A (Avian/Birds); B (Butterflies); H (Hummingbirds); P (Pollinators/Bees) Above: 1st photo - Note that branching occurs only near the top of the stem. Below: 1st photo - The individual flowers form 5 outward spreading lobes from the corolla. Seed: Fertile flowers produce dry nutlets that are 4-sided, about 4mm long and hold very small (1.5 to 2mm) oblong reddish brown seeds. Occasionally, there are two lobes present at the base of the leaves. The latter is the introduction. Verbena is a genus in the family Verbenaceae. It is a tall plant, with branching stems and clusters of small, purple flowers from June through to October. of the dried leaves and steep for 10 -15 minutes. White Vervain, V. urticifolia, has similar, but much smaller white flowers and a spreading loose inflorescence of many wildly spreading spikes. Scientific Name: Verbena officinalis, Labiatae ; Blue Vervain ... Blue Vervain, a variety of Common Vervain, is indigenous to the United States and North America. No need to bend over to see this tall beauty! I found these plants growing on the banks of Pandapas Pond in June and July in Montgomery County, Virginia. Detoxify the Body: One of the oldest and most reliable uses of blue vervain is as a diuretic, as it stimulates the release of urine from the body. The flowers can be tossed on top of a salad and eaten. There are many blue vervain medicinal uses and you will learn them all here. Blue vervain grows 2 to 5 feet tall! Common name: Blue Vervain Scientific name: Verbena hastata Dimensions: Flower: 1/8" (3mm) wide Plant height: 1-6' (30-180 cm) Blooming period: July-September Habitat: Damp thickets, wet meadows, shorelines and roadsides Description: Branching spikes of numerous small 5-petaled flowers that bloom a few at a time. Leaves can be made into a tea or tossed into salads, soups, etc. Details Here. The majority of the species are native to the Americas and Asia. The medicinal parts are the dried aerial parts collected during the flowering season, the fresh, flowering herb, the flowers and the whole fresh plant. These plants are quite robust and are able to resist drought, making them very reliable sources of this powerful herb. Family Name: CompositaeIntroduction. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. (PDR) Verbena gentryi Moldenke; Verbena longifolia M. Martens & Galeotti; International Common Names. Also 3 other species that are known historically only, with some question as to whether they ever were found here. A significant number of active constituents of Blue Vervain have been identified, including: adenosine, aucubin, beta-carotene, caffeic-acid, citral, hastatoside, lupeol, ursolic-acid, verbenalin and verbenin. Nervine Tonic (Nerves, Reproductive Problems and more), HERBS FOR CLEANSING AND PURIFYING THE BLOOD, Hyssopus Officinalis is Effective In Vitro Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus, Zataria Multiflora Shown To Have Significant Inhibitory Effect on HSV-1, “Gypsy” Mushrooms Found to have Antiviral Properties (Including Herpes Simplex 1 and 2), Dr Sebi’s Iron Plus – How To Make Your Own, Promotion of estrogen and progesterone receptor binding. Seeds are extremely small and light, about 93,000 per ounce. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! However, some people incorrectly call V. officinalis blue vervain, so it can get confusing. Vervain is stated to possess sedative, thymoleptic, antispasmodic, mild diaphoretic and, reputedly, galactogogue properties. Other sources by specific reference. Distribution principally from W1, W2 and 28C. Lower leaves up to seven inches long. Blue vervain appears to be safe if there are no concomitant conditions that warrant caution. The inflorescence is a loosely branched terminal cluster with many flower spikes (a panicle). Verbena officinalis commonly known as common vervain, common verbena, simpler’s joy, holy herb, or mosquito plant, wild hyssop, blue vervain, Vervain, Herb of the cross, Prostrate verbena, Enchanter’s Plant, Juno’s Tears, Pigeon’s Grass, Pigeon weed, Herb of Grace, Iron-weed, Wild Verbena, and Indian Hyssop is a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Lore: Mrs. Grieve (Ref. The scientific name of blue vervain is Verbena hastata and it is also known by other names like … This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Blue Vervain is flowering plant that produces purple flowers even in the drought season. Chinese Medicine Uses: The herb is used for edema, chronic malaria, dysmenorrhea and carbuncles. 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