Common Name(s): Texas Vervain, Slender Vervain,

Scientific Name: Verbena halei

Family:  Verbenaceae

Bloom Period: Spring, Summer, Fall; February – December

Habitat: Prairies, Pastures, Fields, Open Woodlands, Disturbed areas

Description: Calyx -5; Corolla – sympetalous, united at base ; Stamens – 2 ; Pistil – 2. Fruit – drupe.

General Info: An ubiquitous plant that can be found flowering almost year round. Similar species: V. officinalis, an invading species from England

Commentary: This flower is very common. Look for the tiny purple flowers, and characteristic shape of the overall plant. This was considered an important medicinal herb by many Native Americans. A tea can be made from this plant, but caution! Some consider it an entheogen.

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Common Name(s): Violet Wood Sorrel, Purple Wood Sorrel, Wood Sorrel

Scientific Name: Oxalis violacea

Family:  Oxalidaceae

Bloom Period: Spring (March – May ), Fall (October -November)

Habitat: Shade to Partial Shade. Near trees or walls (provides shade). Dry Sandy soils, prairies, pastures, open (oak) woods, slopes, rocky areas.

Description: Terminal clusters on scapes. Callyx -5 sepals; Corolla – 5 petals, united at base; Stamens – 10 yellow; Pistil -1 ; Fruit ovoid capsule.

General Info:
A very pretty, long-blooming flower, that grows in clusters . It blooms twice a year: in Spring with leaves, and in Fall, mostly flowers only. Typically grows and spreads in colonies. The flowers close up during cloudy or overcast weather, and the leaves exhibit “sleep movements”, i.e. folding down and inward. The flower closes in a characteristic spiral motion.

Commentary: Look for this flower at the base of large trunked trees, and partial to full shade areas near openings in brush or forest. There is quite a variation of pink to lavender shades exhibited by this flower. The leaves are edible (for tea) and are pleasant to chew -a faint sour taste characteristic of the Oxalidaceae family.

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