Abstract
Verbenaceae are prominent components of cultivated and human-influenced landscapes, yet their taxonomic and horticultural diversity and relationships with local plant knowledge remain poorly documented in Buri Ram Province, Thailand. This study provides an integrated province-wide assessment of Verbenaceae across all 23 districts, combining voucher-based taxonomy and ecological occurrence with community recognition, utilization, cultural importance, and vernacular nomenclature. Field surveys and interviews with 460 informants documented 16 taxa in eight genera, including species, an interspecific hybrid, named cultivars, and horticultural variants. Regarding their biogeographical status in Thailand, 15 recorded taxa were classified as introduced, whereas Phyla nodiflora was the only native taxon. Ornamental use dominated, accounting for 1370 of 1405 use reports, whereas medicinal uses were recorded only for P. nodiflora and Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. Twenty-two unique vernacular names, including Thai and Thai-Khmer forms, frequently reflected morphological or sensory characteristics and horticultural terminology. Recognition, reported utilization, and vernacular differentiation did not necessarily correspond with taxonomic or horticultural diversity. By integrating voucher-based botanical documentation with horticultural diversity and community-derived knowledge, this study complements conventional floristic approaches and provides baseline evidence for understanding plant diversity and human–plant relationships in Southeast Asian community landscapes.