1. Inflorescences all axillary, nearly spherical to short-cylindric at anthesis, much shorter than peduncles (which usually equal or exceed the leaves); corolla 4-lobed; nutlets 2.

Phyla

1. Inflorescences all or mostly terminal, elongate at anthesis, exceeding the peduncles; corolla 5-lobed; nutlets 4.

2. Spikes (at least excluding corolla) less than 8 mm thick; plant stiffly erect, with leaves unlobed or lobed only at the base (pinnate only in V. officinalis).

Verbena (in part)

2. Spikes (even excluding corollas) at least (8-) 12 mm thick; plant ± spreading-decumbent, with incised-pinnatifid leaves.

3. Bracts shorter than calyx; corolla showy, with long exserted tube and limb ca. 1 cm or more broad; style greatly exceeding calyx, conspicuous after shedding of corolla; calyx hairs (or some of them) gland-tipped.

Glandularia

3. Bracts much longer than calyx; corolla inconspicuous, shorter than the bracts, with limb less than 0.5 cm broad; style shorter than calyx, very inconspicuous; calyx hairs without gland-tips.

Verbena bracteata