verbēna — Lewis & Short
verbēna, ae, f. (v. Don. ad verbēnae, ārum, f.,
Ter. And. 4, 3, 11); usually in plur.:I 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.