234 Class XIV. Order I. 



DIDYNAMIA. 



G YMNOSPERMM. 



235. GLECHOMA. 



GLECHOMA HEDERACEA. L. Ground Ivy. Gill. 



Leaves reniform, crenate. 



A creeping plant, usually found about fences or in shady 

 places. Stems square, procumbent. Leaves opposite, petioled, 

 heart or kidney shaped, crenate, hairy. Flowers in whorls, a 

 few together. Calyx striated, ending in five unequal, pointed 

 segments. Corolla blue, the upper lip straight, the lower ex- 

 panded, three lobed, the middle lobe emarginate. Each pair of 

 anthers meet, forming a cross. Ground ivy has a peculiar 

 strong taste and smell, and possesses some medicinal reputation. 

 May, June. Perennial. 



236. MENTHA. 



MENTHA BOREALIS. Mich. Horsemint. 



Ascending, low, pubescent ; leaves petioled, oval- 

 lanceolate, acute at both ends ; flowers in whorls, 

 stamens projecting. Mich. 



Inhabits the banks of rivulets and ditches. Stem square, 

 hairy backwards. Leaves opposite, on downy petioles, oval, 

 acute, serrate, the upper ones lanceolate. Flowers in regular, 

 axillary whorls, on short peduncles. Corolla pale purple. Sta- 

 mens twice as long as the corolla. June, July. Perennial. 

 The taste and properties resemble those of Pennyroyal. 



MENTHA VIRIDIS. L. Spearmint. 



Spikes interrupted ; leaves sessile, lanceolate, acute, 

 naked ; bractes setaceous, and, with the calyx teeth, 

 somewhat hairy. Sm. 



This well known mint spreads rapidly by its creeping roots 

 in moist places. Stems erect, smooth, acute-angled. Leaves 

 sessile, lanceolate, acute, serrate, smooth. Spikes long, acute r 



