Family: Verbena (Verbenaceae)

Description: Mat-forming, herbaceous perennial with coarsely toothed, opposite leaves to 1 inch long and 3/8 inch wide. Axillary flower stalks are about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long and topped by a flower head that is round when young, but becoming cylindrical to 1/2 inch long and 1/4 inch wide. Each flower is 1/16 inch wide, and together they form a circle aroound the purple floral head.

Blooms: All year

Found: Marshes, beaches, and disturbed sites, expecially lawns, of tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

Comment: Although this plant is generally regarded as a lawn weed, it has many attributes. It is a butterfly nectar source and the leaves serve as larval food for the Common Buckeye and Phaon Crescent butterflies.