verbena

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Latin verbēna (“leaves or twigs of olive, myrtle, laurel, or other sacred plants employed in religious ceremonies”), from Proto-Indo-European *werbʰ-. Doublet of vervain, via French.

1. Verbena, a genus of herbaceous plants of which several species are extensively cultivated for the great beauty of their flowers; vervain.

   “Linda pulled a piece of verbena and crumpled it, and held her hands to her mother. -”

   “Hidden behind a large stone urn full of verbena, Dottie watched as her enemy greeted Johnny at the door.”