<h2 id="c19">THE VERBENAS.</h2>
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<p class="t0">“Hallowed be thou, Vervain,</p>
<p class="t">As thou growest on the ground,</p>
<p class="t0">For in the Mount of Calvary</p>
<p class="t">There thou wast first found.”</p>
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<p>The name Verbena in the language
of flowers signifies enchantment. It is
an ancient Latin name for a common
European Vervain. As a classic name,
however, the name Verbena was applied
to any branch that was used in the
celebration of religious rites. Though
the Vervain of our illustration belongs
to this genus it is not the same plant
that was held in high esteem and as a
sacred herb by the Greeks and Romans,
yet it is generally believed that the
“herba sacra” of these ancient peoples
was a Vervain. And even to-day the
name “Herb of Grace” is sometimes applied
to the common wayside flower
which we illustrate.</p>
<p>Virgil and other classic poets speak of
the Verbena as used in altar decorations
and as a garland for beasts led to the
sacrificial pyre. Virgil, in his Eclogues,
refers to it as a charm by which to recover
lost love. Plinius states that no
plant has been more honored than the
Verbena among the Romans. Mr.
Knight, in his biography of Shakespeare,
says: “Some of the children said that
a horseshoe over the door, and Vervain
and dill, would preserve them, as they
had been told, from the devices of sorcery.”</p>
<p>The genus Verbena includes about one
hundred and ten species, often of a weedy
character. They are chiefly American.
In fact, in 1836, Loudon spoke of the
Verbenas as “a genus of weedy plants.”
At the present time this statement is
not true of many species, for under the
florist’s influence they have been brought
to a high degree of perfection and they
are well thought of as ornamental plants.
Even in Loudon’s time there grew on the
prairies of South America several species
of great beauty which he would not have
classed as weeds had he been familiar
with them.</p>
<p>The Blue Vervain is one of the weedy
members of the genus. It is common
along our waysides and with its erect
form and long spikes of blue flowers
would be quite attractive could the flowers
all mature at the same time. It has
frequently been placed under cultivation,
but has but little value as a garden
flower. But in the waste grounds of
roadsides it is a pleasing sight even if its
leaves are gray with dust.</p>
<p>This plant is sometimes called Simpler’s
Joy. It was given this name because
in years gone by it was a popular
herb with the “simplers,” or gatherers
of medicinal plants.</p>
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