Bracted Vervain
Verbena bracteata

Family: Verbena (Verbenaceae)
AKA: Bigbract Verbena, Prostrate Vervain, Carpet Vervain
Picture taken on: June 15, 2014
Location: Walsenburg Airfield, Eastern CO
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Roadsides, disturbed areas

Creeping hairy stems grow to 18" long with hairy, lobed leaves. Tiny flowers grow in dense spikes at the end of the stems and have stiff, hairy bracts. As the flowers are replaced by nutlets the stem elongates.