Posts Tagged ‘groundcover’
Verbena spp - Vervain
Posted by: The Lorax in: ● April 29, 2008
- In: Uncategorized
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Low-growing Verbena, growing near Malchingui, Pichincha Province. I’m not sure which of the hundreds of species this is; it was groing very close to the ground and had a pleasant, lemony smell. This Verbena was on a dry, sandy, windswept mesa at abot 2800 meters above sea level.
Verbena flowers make a lovely, soothing herbal tea, and oil of Verbena is useful to induce lactation and calm nerves. The oil of common Verbena is considered inferior to that of Lemon Verbena in the perfume trade.
If anyone out there knows this Verbena, please pass that knowledge along to me!
Dalea coerulea - Andean Blue Clover
Posted by: The Lorax in: ● April 21, 2008
- In: Uncategorized
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Dalea coerulea, growing in the Quito Botanical Gardens, Quito, Pichincha Province. Andean Blue Clover is a very common native of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; it grows as a scrubby groundcover in virtually all biomes. Although very pretty to look at, it is a clover, and can become quite invasive under certain conditions, namely the presence of abundant water and direct sunlight. It is perennial and propagates easily by both seeds and cuttings. It prefers clay soils, but will grow just about anywhere.
