Species: Verbena hastata var. hastata L.

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Verbena hastata var. hastata L.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Verbenaceae

Genus:

Verbena

Species Synonyms:

none

Common Names:

swamp vervain
blue vervain

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southern British Columbia, southeastern Saskatchewan – Manitoba – southern Ontario – Quebec – New Brunswick – Nova Scotia

Saskatchewan:

southeastern Saskatchewan; Souris River Valley

Ecoregion:

Moist Mixed Grassland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

moist semi-wooded or shrubby streamlet ravines

Associated species:

Lycopus asper, Potentilla rivalis, Ranunculus pensylvanicus, Ranunculus macounii, Sphenopholis obtusata

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Threatened

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1S2

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Verbena hastata var. hastata is threatened because of rarity in Saskatchewan. This species is restricted southwestern Saskatchewan and populations are small. Possible threats are inferred by occurrences in heavy populated areas, fragile habitats, or occurrences in areas of possible planned developments.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

50 – 230 cm

Stems:

perennial, erect, simple or sparingly branched above, usually rough-pubescent

Leaves:

opposite, petiolate, 4 – 18 cm long, lanceolate, base may be hastately 3-lobed, apex acuminate, glabrous to slightly pubescent, margin coarsely serrate to incised

Inflorescence:

spikes numerous in panicles, stiff, thick, compact; bractlets rarely surpassing calyx, lanceolate

Flowers:

calyx 2 – 3 mm long, more or less connivent; corolla at least 3 mm broad, blue-violet, pubescent; stamens 5, epipetalous; carpels 2, 4-lobed, styles 1

Fruits:

nutlets 4, overlapping, smooth or faintly striate, reddish-brown

VERBENA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Leaves 3-lobed or pinnately lobed with serrate margins; stems low, usually prostrate to decumbent; bractlets subtending flowers as long as calyx	V. bracteata
1 Leaves toothed or shallowly incised; stems erect; bractlets subtending flowers shorter than calyx	2

2 Spikes numerous in panicles; leaves distinctly petioled; flowers and fruits overlapping in dense spikes; flowers blue; petioles not decurrent	V. hastata var. hastata
2 Spikes solitary to few; leaves subsessile; flowers and fruits remote in loose spikes; flowers white; petioles decurrent	V. urticifolia var. urticifolia