Purple Top
Verbena bonariensis
Photographed at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, Kenya. March 2013. A stink bug is feeding on the developing fruits and is very similar to one found on Cyathula.
LEAVES: Elongate elyptic to triangular leaves. The margins are toothed.
Opposite leaves.
HERB: Verbaceous plants with distinctly square stems. Mostly less than
1½m tall.
FLOWERS: Purple flowers are packed into densely packed spikes and there
are several spikes arrayed together at the top of each plant. Bracts below the
flowers are cast with purple color. The corollas are weakly bilaterally
symetrical.
RANGE: This is an introduced plant and is sometimes weedy or invasive.
Native to South America.
FRUIT:
UNARMED.