Purpletop Vervain

Description:

Verbena bonariensis (aka purpletop vervain, tall verbena, clustertop vervain, or pretty verbena) is a non-indigenous species in Australia, but is native to tropical South America. Outside of a cultivated garden environment in this country it is classified as a weed. The only species of Verbena native to Australia is V. gaudichaudii.

Habitat:

Found along the edge of the Kalang River in Urunga. Salt water environment. Climate is warm to hot, and quite humid during the summer months.

Notes:

This specimen has pretty flowers and unusual shaped leaves, although the stems are long and seem to be quite woody in appearance. Perhaps in a more fertile environment the plants would not seem so sparse.