Verbena officinalis aka Vervain

Verbena officinalis, commonly known as common vervain or common verbena, is a perennial herb native to Europe. It has an upright habitus and can grow up to 70 cm high. The leaves are lobed, toothed, and roughly hairy. In late summer, wiry spikes emerge, bearing numerous tiny pale purple flowers. This plant prefers limey soils and is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant. It is also valued for its medicinal properties, which have been recognized in traditional Chinese medicine and included in the European and Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The chemical composition of Verbena officinalis includes iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential oil. Outside of its native range, this plant is widely naturalized, including in North America. It forms an evergreen rosette, with erect, hairy, woody stems and opposite leaves. The lower leaves are deeply lobed with serrated edges. Clusters of small pinkish lilac flowers with a two-lipped, five-lobed tubular corolla bloom on slender branched spikes from June to September. The calyx is long and tubular, and the fruit contains four nutlets. Overall, Verbena officinalis is a useful plant with both ornamental and medicinal value.