| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Asterids I
Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae
Family common Name: Verbena Family
Genera: Lantana, Verbena |
Defining Features:
Flowers often with an involucre of colored bracts. Plants sometimes thorny.
Defining Morphology:
Floral Features: Inflorescences are indeterminate axillary or terminal
in racemes or cymes. Flowers are bisexual and zygomorphic often with a
colorful involucre. Calyx is lobed or toothed and corolla is lobed and
tubular. Androecium is epipetalous and alternate. Style is single and terminal.
Ovaries are superior with axile placentation. Fruit and Seed Features:
Dicotyledon. Fruit drupe or nutlets. Seeds have straight oily embryo and
little to no endosperm. Vegetative Features: Habit varies from trees to
lianas to shrubs and herbs. Some species have thorns or prickles. Plants
are often aromatic. Leaves are usually simple, opposite (rarely whorled
or alternate). Leaves margins are entire or divided. No stipules. Stems
often 4 angled.
Distribution: Tropical and
subtropical, a few temperate, but mostly New World.
Economic Use: As source of
fibers in textiles and rope as well as cultivated garden ornamentals.
Number of Genera Globally:
36
Number of Species Globally: 1,035
