Urgebão
Vernacular name for two vervains, the South American Verbena bonariensis and the native V. officinalis, whose leaf infusion is used for liver and kidney complaints.
Two plants of the Verbenaceae family are known by this name: Verbena bonarbensis and V. officinalis. The first, which is native to South America, has very rough, incised-serrate leaves and lilac flowers arranged in spikes that are short at first and later lengthen. The second, which is indigenous, has incised-serrate or pinnatifid leaves, sometimes glabrescent on the upper surface, and very small blue flowers arranged in narrow spikes that become filiform when fruiting. An infusion of the leaves of these plants is used for diseases of the liver and kidneys. Jarvão (popular name for vervain) is a corruption of urgebão.
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Place
Places mentioned · 01
- South America
The region of origin of Verbena bonariensis.
South America is cited in the Elucidário chiefly as the native region of plants grown in Madeira. These include the papaya, bougainvillea, sweet potato, Bidens pilosa and Verbena bonariensis.