The Verbenaceae (/ˌvɜːrbəˈneɪsi.iː/ VUR-bə-NAY-see-ee), the verbena family or vervain family, is a 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.[2]
Verbenaceae | |
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Flowers, fruit and leaves (on the right) of a Lantana cultivar | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Verbenaceae J.St.-Hil. |
Synonyms[1] | |
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The family Verbenaceae includes 32 genera and 800 species.[3] Phylogenetic studies[4] have shown that numerous genera traditionally classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae. The mangrove genus Avicennia, sometimes placed in the Verbenaceae[5] or in its own family, Avicenniaceae,[6] has been placed in the Acanthaceae.[7]
Economically important Verbenaceae include:
Tribes and genera in the family[8] and their estimated species numbers:[3]
Casselieae (Schauer) Tronc.
Citharexyleae Briq.
Duranteae Bent.
Lantaneae Endl.
Neospartoneae Olmstead & N.O'Leary
Petreeae Briq.
Priveae Briq.
Verbeneae Dumort.
Unassigned
Various genera formerly included in the family Verbenaceae are now treated under other families:[9]
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