Vervain (Watership Down)
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Vervain is one of the Efrafan rabbits from the tale Watership Down.
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[edit] In the book
Vervain is the head of the Owslafa, or Council Police in Efrafa, "a heavy, savage-looking rabbit whom [Bigwig] guessed to be Vervain, the head of the Council police." He is renowned for bullying lesser rabbits when he's able to; however, despite his efforts at discipline and command, he is in actual fact something of a coward, something which explains his dislike of the other Efrafan captain, Campion, a rabbit who has the admiration of the majority of those in Efrafa - in particular General Woundwort, whom Vervain seems to have a desire to prove himself to. He lacks the strength and courage most Efrafan captains have, being "more used to dealing with prisoners than with enemies." He mysteriously disappears on the way back to Efrafa, an apparent fulfillment of Fiver's telling Vervain that he was "sorry for your death."
[edit] In the film
Vervain is mentioned in the film, but otherwise he is not identified.
[edit] In the series
Vervain is somewhat less fearsome in the series than in the book, being portrayed almost as a figure of fun at times under the heel of the General.
[edit] Vervain's name
Like many other male rabbits in Watership Down, including Hazel, Holly, Cowslip, Campion, the Threarah (threar being Lapine for "rowan tree"), and Woundwort (but not including Fiver/Hrair-roo or Bigwig/Thlayli), Vervain is named after a local plant. Vervain is an alternative name for Verbena - a type of small flowering plant found in England, where Watership Down is set.
| Richard Adams' Watership DownEdit |
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| Novels: Watership Down - Tales from Watership Down |
| Adaptations: Feature film - TV series |
| Characters: Bigwig - Blackavar - Blackberry - Campion - Cowslip - Dandelion - Fiver - General Woundwort - Hazel - Hyzenthlay - Kehaar - Vervain - Minor characters |
| Mythical/story creatures: El-ahrairah |
| Locations: Efrafa - River Enborne - Railway line - Redstone - River Test - Watership Down |
| Other: Chief Rabbit - Concepts in Watership Down - Lapine - Owsla |
