verbena

verbēna, ae, f. (v. Don. ad Ter. And. 4, 3, 11); usually in plur.: verbēnae, ārum, f., foliage, herbage, the leaves, twigs, and branches of laurel, olive, or myrtle, cypress, tamarisk, sacred boughs, etc.:

verbenas vocamus omnes frondes sacratas, ut est laurus, oliva vel myrtus,

Serv. ad Verg. A. 12, 120; cf. id. ad Verg. E. 8, 65, where is given the derivation, a viriditate;

such boughs were borne by the fetiales,

Liv. 1, 24, 6; 30, 43, 3; Plin. 22, 2, 3, § 5:

verbenā tempora vincti,

Serv. ad Verg. A. 12, 120;

by priests suing for protection,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 50, § 110;

and were used in sacrifices and other religious acts,

Plaut. Truc. 2, 5, 33; Ter. And. 4, 3, 11; Hor. C. 1, 19, 14; 4, 11, 7; Ov. M. 7, 242; Verg. E. 8, 65; Plin. 15, 29, 36, § 119; Suet. Vesp. 7.—

II.

A class of plants used in medicine as cooling remedies, including the olive, myrtle, ivy, etc., Cels. 2, 22 fin.; 8, 10, 7.