Verbena bonariensis
Purple Top at Bruce, ACT
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| Verbena bonariensis | MichaelMulvaney | 14 Apr 2026 | |
| Verbena bonariensis | abread111 | 11 Feb 2026 |
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User's notes
Same plants as in https://canberra.naturemapr.org/sightings/4719043 showing features which indicate it is V. bonariensis as described in PlantNET. Second pic is upper surface of leaf, third pic is lower surface, 4th shows length of corolla tube compared to calyx. Will press and take to ANBG for Herbarium, since it is not on the published Census for ACT plants.
6 comments
14 Apr 2026
@MichaelMulvaney - Can you confirm this sighting please? and also Verbena bonariensis (Purple Top) - see quote below:
"Brendan and I have examined your specimen and agree with you that it is Verbena bonariensis, which is not on the currently published Plant Census for the ACT.
Kind regards,
Helen Kennedy, PhD
Identifications and Living Collections Botanist | Australian National Herbarium
Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research
National Research Collections Australia / National Facilities and Collections
CSIRO
E Helen.Kennedy@csiro.au "
"Brendan and I have examined your specimen and agree with you that it is Verbena bonariensis, which is not on the currently published Plant Census for the ACT.
Kind regards,
Helen Kennedy, PhD
Identifications and Living Collections Botanist | Australian National Herbarium
Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research
National Research Collections Australia / National Facilities and Collections
CSIRO
E Helen.Kennedy@csiro.au "
14 Apr 2026
I think my early sightings of Verbena were always identified to V. incompta even if I had suggested V. bonariensis. Probably this was guided by the ACT Plant Census (only incompta) though the ACT list of Naturalised Alien plants gives (Verbena bonariensis (syn. Verbena incompta)). After a long discussion with CoPilot AI, I am told corolla tube length is not a suitable identifying feature.
14 Apr 2026
I think you are right in suggesting that previous ids were guided by what was in the ACT Census then.
I am happy to go with the botanists rather than CoPilot AI and let them decide if these are separate species or synonyms.
Probably some of the sightings on CNM under V. incompata are actually V. bonariensis, but will not be able to be distinguished now.
I am happy to go with the botanists rather than CoPilot AI and let them decide if these are separate species or synonyms.
Probably some of the sightings on CNM under V. incompata are actually V. bonariensis, but will not be able to be distinguished now.
14 Apr 2026
I don't know what characteristics the Herbarium used. I will put together the CoPilot comparisons and see how they compare.
22 Jul 2026
@MichaaelMulvaney Can you please change the info which is displayed on the home page Verbena bonariensis for this species. It is now on the Census list, but that has not been published since 2019, Needs up-dating... says for Pyrus calleryana - formerly (naturalised) - wish that were true!
Location information
- Coordinates 149.104568-35.242600
- Altitude 627.0m
- Maps Bruce Ridge to Gossan Hill
- Places Bruce, ACT
Sighting information
- 16 - 100 Abundance
- 11 Feb 2026 01:44 PM Recorded on
- abread111 Recorded by
- 1 metre to 5 metres Plant height
- Yes In flower
Collections
- abread111 NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Verbena bonariensis Other Wildflowers & Herbs Plants
Species information
- Verbena bonariensis Scientific name
- Purple Top Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Medium weed or pest
- Up to 744m Recorded at altitude
Seasonal activity
-
Was the plant in flower?
JFMAMJJASOND
Record quality
Quality score
6 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Description
- Additional attributes
- GPS evidence of location