vervain

[ vur-veyn ]

noun

1. any plant belonging to the genus Verbena, of the verbena family, having elongated or flattened spikes of stalkless flowers.

vervain

/ ˈvɜːveɪn /

noun

1. any of several verbenaceous plants of the genus Verbena, having square stems and long slender spikes of purple, blue, or white flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of vervain¹

1350–1400; Middle English vervaine < Anglo-French, Middle French verveine < Latin verbēna leafy twig, holy bough carried by priests

Word History and Origins

Origin of vervain¹

C14: from Old French verveine, from Latin verbēna sacred bough; see verbena

Example Sentences

On sunny days, they dined on strands of purpletop vervain, an annual plant that magically returned in other parts of the garden this year, its seeds carried by the wind.

From Washington Post

Butterflies are important pollinators of native plants and for many plant species and genera—for example, flame azaleas and mock vervains—butterflies are the only, or almost only, pollinators.

From Scientific American

For the fever we put ice on his face and chest; for the pain we gave him lobelia, blue vervain and skullcap.

From Literature

The old woman poured steaming water from the kettle over a few pinches of blue vervain and chamomile, then put the mug of herbal tea into Claire’s hands.

From Literature

Now this Verbena hastata, or blue vervain, leaned against my shoulder, dangling long tassels of seeds that the juncos love to eat.

From New York Times