Common name: Purpletop
Verbena incompta P.W.Michael APNI* 
Description: Herb 0.5–1.5(-2) m high; branches erect, conspicuously quadrangular, with prominent long hairs.
Leaves sessile, narrowly ovate, 4–15 cm long, 0.6–3 cm wide, rugose, scabrous and ± shortly hairy above, with longer hairs below; base ± subauriculate and amplexicaul; margin coarsely and irregularly incised-serrate (entire towards base); apex acuminate.
Inflorescence lax, terminal, corymbose spike-like; bracts equal to or longer than calyx; peduncle and bracts strongly glandular. Calyx 5-toothed, 2.5–3 mm long. Corolla blue to reddish purple, 2.5–3.5 mm long, scarcely longer than calyx; tube c. 2.5 mm long.
Mericarps 1.3–1.5 mm long.
Flowering: Flowers mainly October–January
Distribution and occurrence: Often an aggressive weed in the eastern regions of the State, extending as far east as the Western Slopes and the NW Plains, also occurs on Lord Howe Island. Also naturalised in N.T., Qld, Vic, S.A and W.A. Native to S. Amer. Naturalised in Norfolk Island, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa. Occurs in waste lands, cultivated areas and roadsides.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *SWP, *NWP, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *N.T. *S.A. *W.A.
*
Text by B.J. Conn
Taxon concept: B.J. Conn (1999)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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