American vervain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids American vervain |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Verbena
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| Species: |
hastata
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Verbena hastata is a beautiful flowering plant known by many names, like American vervain, blue vervain, or swamp verbena. It belongs to the vervain family, called Verbenaceae. This plant is very common and grows all across North America. It is quite tough and can even survive in dry places.
Contents
About the Blue Vervain Plant
What Does it Look Like?
The blue vervain is a type of herb. This means it has soft stems, not woody ones like a tree. It has stiff, upright stems that are square-shaped and branch out. Its leaves grow in pairs directly opposite each other on the stem. These leaves have edges that are jagged, almost like a saw blade. In the summer, you can see its pretty purple flowers blooming.
Where Does it Grow?
This plant is found widely across North America. You can spot it in many different areas, from Canada to the United States. It's a hardy plant, meaning it can handle different weather conditions. It is also known for being drought resistant, which means it can live even when there isn't much water.
Its Plant Family and History
Scientists study how plants are related to each other. The blue vervain is part of a group of North American vervains. These plants have a specific number of chromosomes, which are like tiny instruction manuals inside their cells. Experts believe that the blue vervain might have developed from a mix of other vervain plants over a long time. This mixing process is called hybridization. Some of its possible relatives include the white vervain and other Verbena species.
Helping Butterflies
The blue vervain plant is important for some insects. It acts as a host plant for the common buckeye butterfly. This means that the caterpillars of the common buckeye butterfly eat the leaves of the blue vervain plant. It helps them grow and turn into beautiful butterflies.
See also
In Spanish: Verbena hastata para niños
