660 



HOTANY 



and are characterised by the suppression of two of the stamens usually present. 

 (Fig. 736). The two fertile stamens have a very long connective, with the anterior 

 theca, in which pollen is formed, protected beneath the upper lip. The posterior 

 theca, the development of which differs in tin- species, projects into the entrance of 

 the corolla tube leading to the nectary (cf. p. 312, Fig. 244). A bee visiting the 



flower, presses this theca up- 

 wiinlsand thus bringsdown the 

 other arm of the lever, formed 

 by the elongated connective, 

 upon its back. In older flowers 

 the bifid stigma occupies such a 

 position that it will rub olf pol- 

 len brought by an insect from 

 another flower. Many species 

 of Salvia are cultivated as or- 

 namental plants, and are often 

 conspicuous, rather by reason 

 of their brightly coloured 

 bracts than by their flowers. 

 Labiatae are especially abund- 

 ant in the xerophytic forma- 

 tion of shrubby plants in tin- 

 Mediterranean region to which 

 the name Maquis is given : 

 Salvia officinal IK, M<irrnliinni, 

 Phlomis, and species of Li 

 dula. Rosmarinus 

 is a showy shrub with small 

 narrow leaves revolute at the 

 margin, and bright blue flowers 

 with only two fertile stamens. 

 Many species are grown as 

 kitchen herbs, e.g. Origanum 

 majorana, Satitn'jn hurti-nsis. 

 Ocimum basilicum, Salvia and 

 Thymus. Thymus vulgaris 

 from the Mediterranean, like 

 our native T. serpyllwm, is a 

 low, shrubby plant with poly- 



gamous flowers ; there are 

 larger.hermaphrodite and small, 

 purely female flowers. Some 

 species of Mentha are similar. 

 The widely cultivated .'/. /"/ - 

 rita is a hybrid between M. ririttis and M. aquatica ; it is completely sterile, and has 

 been propagated by runners from ancient times. 31. crispa, another commonly culti- 

 vated form, is a crispate variety of M. viridis ; M. longifoUn, var. imdulntn. M. 

 sylvcsfris, etc. 



OFFICIAL. Rosmarinus officinalis yields OLEUM ROSMARIXI. Lin-amlnln ttn 

 (Mediterranean region), OLEUM LAVAXDM.AE. .!/////<" />i/im'i'i. 01 .KI M MKXTHAE 

 1'ii'EitiTAE. M. viridix, oi.KfM MEXTHAE viuiins. M. Ofventit and .17. 

 yield MENTHOL. Thymus vulgaris and Monarda punclata yield THYMOL. 



FIG. 737. Melissa officinal ix (i nat. size. 

 After liERi; ;in<l SCHMIDT). 



