family of New World tropical and subtropical herbs and shrubs and trees

The Verbenaceae or Verbena family has been considered to be closely related to the Lamiaceae (Labiatae or mint family), and the border between the two families has long been unclear but characters tying these two families together are apparently convergent. Recent phylogenetic studies have shown several genera to be misplaced in Verbenaceae and these genera are being moved out of Verbenaceae into Lamiaceae. Avicennia, sometimes placed in Verbenaceae or in its own family, Avicenniaceae, has been placed in Acanthaceae.