Common name: Vervain, Simpler's Joy, European vervain, Herb of Grace, Tharo-phijub (Manipuri)
Botanical name: Verbena officinalis Family: Verbenaceae (verbena family)
Vervain is a herbaceous perennial thought to originate in Southern Europe
through to China but has been widely grown for thousands of years by many
cultures. Has mid-green, slightly hairy, lobed, almost diamond shaped leaves.
Bears tiny,
lilac, 2 lipped flowers with a larger, 5 lobed bottom lip, borne on slender
flower spikes. The flowers open from the bottom of the spike first. It rarely
has more then 4 flowers open on the spike at any one time so it's quite
inconspicuous unless you look for it. Flowers June-October but may open as
early as April. Once considered a very sacred herb. The druids supposedly
introduced it to the Romans. The Romans so venerated the
plant they even held an annual festival in honour of it called Verbenalia.
Roman brides also wore the flowers at weddings as it was sacred to the goddess
of love Venus.
Medicinal uses: Vervain makes an excellent nerve tonic and is used
in the treatment of nervous disorders, epilepsy, some respiritory problems
such as whooping cough, urinary tract problems, sedetive, detoxification, as a
digestive, a cooling wash for mild fever, sore throats some skin complaints
like eczema and for bringing out bruising. It can also be used as a refreshing
eye tonic and suprisingly it was one of the first commercial hair tonics.
| Photographed in Imphal, Manipur. |
Identification credit: R.K. Nimai Singh
|
aturalized