What is "verbena officinalis"

Peristerion \Per`is*te"ri*on\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a dovecote, a kind of verbena, fr. ? a dove, pigeon; cf. L. peristereon.] (Bot.) The herb vervain ( Verbena officinalis).

Verbena officinalis, the common vervain or common verbena, is a perennial herb native to Europe. It grows up to a metre/yard high, with an upright habitus. The lobed leaves are toothed, the delicate spikes hold mauve flowers.

This plant prefers limey soils; it is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant but perhaps more often for the powerful properties some herbalists ascribe to it. Propagation is by root cuttings or seed. It is widely naturalised outside its native range, for example in North America.