any plant of the verbenaceous genus Verbena, chiefly of tropical and temperate America, having red, white, or purple fragrant flowers: much cultivated as garden plants
See also vervain
2.
any of various similar or related plants, esp the lemon verbena
Word origin
C16: via Medieval Latin, from Latin: sacred bough used by the priest in religiousacts, vervain
verbena in American English
(vərˈbinə)
noun
1.
any of a genus (Verbena) of plants of the verbena family, with spikes or clusters of showy red, white, or purplish flowers, widely grown for ornament
adjective
2.
designating a family (Verbenaceae, order Lamiales) of mostly tropical, American, dicotyledonous plants, shrubs, and trees, including vervain, lantana, and teak
Word origin
ModL < L, foliage, branches, vervain < IE *werb-, to turn, bend < base *wer- > worm