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Verbenaceae Family - "Hoary Vervain, Mullien-leaved Verbena, Wooly Verbena"
Verbena is the Latin term for "sacred herb". Stricta is Latin for "upright, erect".
Distinctive square stem, grows to 3 feet. Plant is very hairy normally. Flowers vary from blue-violet to rose and occur in spikes at the top of the plant from late June to September. Spikes can be 8 inches long and bloom from the bottom up. Found in fields, thickets and ditches throughout the Tallgrass region.
The seeds of Blue Vervain were collected by some Native Americans , roasted and ground into a flour or meal. Central California Miwoks used the seed meal as an extensive food source. A tea made from the leaves was used as a remedy for stomach aches by northern plains Indians. The tops of this plant persist through the hard northern winter months and provide a limited amount of food to birds.
