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Family: Verbenaceae (teak, lantana family) Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids > Euasterid I > Order: Lamiales
There are a total of 34 genera and 1175 species (worldwide),
of which seven genera and 37 species native to southern Africa. An additional
three genera and 12 species have become naturalised in the region, and
an additional two genera and 14 species are cultivated in southern Africa.
A number of genera have been moved from the Verbenaceae to the
Lamiaceae.
Genera native to southern Africa
List from Retief (2000). Note that the genera Clerodendrum,
Karomia, Premna and Vitex have been moved from the Verbenaceae to the
Lamiaceae.
Chascanum About 30
species, native to Africa, Madagascar and Arabian Peninsula to West India,
with 14 species native to southern Africa. |
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Lantana About 150 species,
native to tropical America and Africa. There are seven indigenous species in
southern Africa, three species naturalised and a further two
species that are cultivated in the region. |
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Lippia About 200 species,
native to tropical Africa and America, with eight indigenous species in
southern Africa. |
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Phyla The 11
species are found in warm and tropical areas, with one, Phyla nodiflora,
native to southern Africa (recorded from Zimbabwe, see
Flora of Zimbabwe). |
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Plexipus One
species native to southern Africa - Plexipus caespitosus. |
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Priva
About 20 species,
native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Asia Minor, Africa and parts of
America. There are five species native to southern Africa . |
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Verbena About 200 species, native mainly to tropical and temperate
America although there are also 2-3 species native to the Old World. One species
is native to southern Africa and five species
have been introduced to the region, which in summer rainfall areas have become
common weeds along roadsides and in open spaces. An additional three
species are cultivated but not naturalised in the region. |
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Genera naturalised in southern Africa
List from Retief (2000).
Citharexylum (zither wood)
Five species cultivated, one of which has become naturalised in Zimbabwe. The wood is used for making musical instruments. |
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Duranta About 30
species, native in the Caribbean and South America. Duranta erecta,
originating from Argentina, was introduced to southern Africa as a garden
ornamental shrub but has become naturalised. An additional species,
Duranta stenostachya, is cultivated in the region. |
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Stachytarpheta
The 65 species are native mainly to tropical and warm regions of America
although there are a few in the Old World. Two species have become
naturalised in southern Africa, and an additional species is cultivated in
the region. |
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Other genera, cultivated in southern Africa
List from Glen (2002). The species name is provided in
genera that have only one species cultivated in southern Africa. Some genera
listed under Verbenaceae in Glen (2002) are now classified in the
Lamiaceae.
Aloysia
Two species cultivated: Aloysia ligustrina (native from the USA to
Argentina) and Aloysia
triphylla (Lemon verbena) (native from Mexico to Argentina). |
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Petrea volubilis (Petrea, Purple wreath)
Native from Mexico to Brazil.
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Publications
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Retief, E. 2000. Verbenaceae. In: Seed Plants of
Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 557-559.
National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
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Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of
Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.
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