Order Lamiales | Scientific name Verbenaceae Rank Family | |
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Lower classifications Vervain, Shrub verbenas, Clerodendrum, Lippia, Golden Dewdrop | ||
Verbenaceae a case study in plant evolution
The Verbenaceae /vɜːrbiːˈneɪsiː/ are a family, commonly known as the verbena family or vervain family, of mainly tropical flowering plants. It contains trees, shrubs, and herbs notable for heads, spikes, or clusters of small flowers, many of which have an aromatic smell.
Contents
Recent phylogenetic studies have shown that numerous genera traditionally classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae. The new narrowly circumscribed Verbenaceae family includes some 35 genera and 1,200 species. The mangrove genus Avicennia, sometimes placed in the Verbenaceae or in its own family, Avicenniaceae, has been placed in the Acanthaceae.
Economically important Verbenaceae include:
Genera
The genera in the new narrowly circumscribed family:
Excluded genera
Various genera formerly included in the family Verbenaceae are now treated under other families:
