*Verbena bonariensis

Family Verbenaceae

Purpletop

Short-lived perennial herb to 2 m high. Longevity 2 - 5 years.

Flowers: Dark violet – purple, October - June.

Fruit: Dry separating at maturity into 4 one-seeded segments.

Seed: Seedlings commonly observed in woodland.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Native of South America.
• Grassland and woodland habitats.
• Localised in woodland and grasslands at the Australian Botanic Garden, often in sites of former cultivation.
• Reported to be food plant of butterfly larvae Jononia villida calybe.
• May be heavily cropped by rabbits.
• Resprouts after fire.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.