666 
R. Br. prod. p. 499. Mirb. ann. mus. 15. p. 213. 
ord. nat. 180. Benth. lab. p. xiii. 
Calyx tubular, regular, 5-cleft, or 5-10-toothed, or bilabiate ; 
lips entire, or divided. Corolla tubular, irregular, bilabiate; su- 
perior lip undivided or bifid, lying over each other in zestivation: 
lower lip trifid. Stamens 4, didynamous, 2 of which are some- 
times sterile ; filaments inserted under the sinuses of the lower lip 
and interlabiate ; anthers 2-lobed : lobes usually divaricate; but 
sometimes dimidiate, and therefore somewhat 1-celled, with an 
obsolete division and a continuous suture. Ovaria 4, 1-seed- 
ed, connected with the base of the style, seated on a glandular 
disk, and girded at bottom; ovula erect. Style 1. Stigma bifid, 
usually acute, sometimes unequal, or dilated. Achenia 4, hidden 
by the permanent calyx, some of them generally abortive. Albu- 
men wanting, or very sparing. Embryo erect. Cotyledons flat.— 
Herbs, rarely shrubs. Stems and branches tetragonal. Leaves 
opposite, exstipulate, simple, undivided, or lobed ; petioles or 
bases of the leaves not articulated with the branch. Flowers 
opposite, verticillate, capitate, spicate, racemose, or solitary, 
axillary or terminal, bracteate or naked. 
The order Labiate is one of the most natural and distinctly 
marked of all. The opposite leaves, monopetalous corolla, 2 or 
4 stamens, and the free 4-lobed ovarium, are characters so easily 
observed, and so constantly accompanying the general habit of 
the whole series, that from the time of Linnzus to the present 
day but two or three genera have been improperly associated 
with, or separated from it. Its immediate affinities are few. 
The same 4-lobed ovarium is only found in Borraginee, but 
here the fifth stamen is always present and fertile, and the 
corolla is usually regular, with gyrate inflorescence. Scrophula- 
rinee, and other allied tribes are at once separated by the cap- 
sular fruit. In Verbendcee alone, having frequently the same 
inflorescence and many of the characters of Labidte, approach 
near enough to occasion any hesitation in drawing the line of 
separation. The ovarium is slightly lobed in Verbéna and 
other neighbouring genera, and in Cymária and some Teicria it 
is less lobed than in other Labiate, but yet the distance is con- 
siderable in this respect between the former and the two latter 
genera, ex Bentham. 
The species are to be found in more or less abundance over 
the surface of the globe, but the greater mass within the tropics. 
Many are extremely odoriferous ; some bear handsome flowers, 
others are mere weeds. They are remarkable for their tonic, 
cordial, stomachic virtues; they contain both a bitter and an 
aromatic principle in different proportions. The bitterness 
which is given out in decoctions resides in a gum resinous 
secretion abounding in some Teicria, which are particularly 
employed as stomachics, and sometimes as febrifuges; those 
which abound in essential oil, and are consequently aromatic, 
are used as stimulants. From the different degree of combi- 
nation of these principles in different plants, they have obtained 
various uses, such as savory, thyme, marjoram for the seasoning 
of food ; sage, balm, ground ivy for tea; cat thyme, marjoram, 
lavender, and thyme for sternutories ; others, such as lavender, 
Bartl. 
LABIAT E. 
mint, balm, and rosemary, for perfume. The essential oil of all 
contain camphor, which is said to exist in such quantity in 
sage and lavender, that it has been supposed that the separating 
of it might become an object of commerce. 
In the arrangement of this truly natural family, I have fol- 
lowed Mr. Bentham, whose elaborate work, entitled ** Labiata- 
rum Genera et Species," is a model for future monographers. 
Synopsis of the genera. 
Trise I. 
Ocvwoipgg. Stamens declinate. Corolla sub-bilabiate; the 
superior 4 lobes flat, and nearly equal, or the two uppermost ones 
are joined : the lower segment is declinate, usually of a differ- 
ent form from the others, sometimes flat, but usually concave, 
boat-shaped, or saccate. Old anthers usually saucer-shaped. 
§ 1. Segments of corolla almost of equal length: lower one 
the narrowest, declinate, and flattish.— Tropical plants. 
1 O’cymum. Fructiferous calyx deflexed ; the uppermost 
tooth ovate, large, usually decurrent.—Whorls 6-flowered, 
rarely with so many as 10 flowers. 
2 GxwiósronuM.  Fructiferous calyx almost erect, or de- 
clinate, usually transversely wrinkled at base; teeth irregular: 
upper one not decurrent. Filaments naked. Lobes of style 
subulate.—Whorls many-flowered. 
3 Mzsówa. Upper lip of corolla divided ; lower one small, 
and inflexed. Shorter stamens appendiculate at the base. 
4 AcRoce'PHALUs. Calyx erectish, having the 4 lower teeth 
combined into an entire or 4-toothed lip.— Whorls of flowers 
capitate. 
5 Moscnuósma. Fruit-bearing calyx declinate ; upper tooth 
ovate, not decurrent. Tube of corolla inclosed. Lobes of 
style very short.—Whorls few-flowered, secund, usually dis- 
posed in axillary racemules. 
6 OnrnuosrPHow. Fructiferous calyx deflexed ; superior 
tooth ovate. Tube of corolla straight, exserted. Style headed 
by the stigma.—Habit of O’cymum. 
$ 2. Lomer segment of corolla elongated, concave.— Tropical 
plants. 
7 Hosrv'wpia. 
calyx baccate. 
8 Precrra'xtuvs. Fructiferous calyx 5-toothed, not spiny, 
with an open mouth. Filaments free. 
9 Coteus. Fructiferous calyx toothed, not spiny, with an 
open mouth. Filaments monadelphous. 
10 AxisocHrLUs.  Fructiferous calyx closed.— Whorles of 
flowers spicate. 
Superior stamens abortive. Fructiferous 
11 GEorra'wTHUs. Calyx truncate, circumcised at the base 
in the fructiferous state. d 
