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Which timber trees were moved from the verbena family to the mint family after molecular studies?
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Lamiales
The lilac-pink flowers of the water mint attract butterflies and beetles.
Based on molecular studies, several important timber trees formerly classified within the Verbenaceae family have been reassigned to the Lamiaceae (mint) family. These include:
- Tectona grandis: Commonly known as teak, this tree is native to India, Myanmar, and Malaysia and is highly valued for its wood.1
- Gmelina arborea: An Old World species that is now widely cultivated for both timber and firewood due to its rapid growth.1
- Vitex altissima: An Asian tree that produces commercial timber.1
- Vitex divaricata: A related species that produces wood used for shingles and bark utilized in tanning.1