A low, thicket-forming shrub rooting at the nodes, rough but without prickles. Leaves ovate, 1-2.5 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm wide, margins toothed, upper surface rough and wrinkled, lower surface with orange-yellow glands; stalk to 4 cm long. Flower heads to 2 cm wide, on stalks to 8 cm long; year round. Corolla purplish. Fruit a drupe 4-6 mm wide, purplish black. [L. sellowiana Link & Otto]

Tropical S America

A weed of wasteland, mostly along the coast N of Sydney. Plants are suspected, like L. camara, of cattle poisoning.

In South America used in native medicine for the treatment of fevers, headache, sunstroke and broncho-pulmonary complaints.

Cultivars include L. 'Malau's Gold' (PVJ 10(1)48), L. 'Monswee' (PVJ 8(3)52), L. 'Rosie' and L. 'White Lightning'.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Verbenaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.