118 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



a term used for labiates in general. Hysso/^iis is another an- 

 cient name which is said to be derived from the Hebrew eseb. 

 From the same language comes Marrnbinm from marrob "a 

 bitter juice". The name was first used by Pliny. The cat- 

 nip genus, Nepeta, is by some said to be derived from Nepet 

 or Nepete an Etruscan city. Phlomis is the old Greek name 

 for some woolly plant. W ood says that the woolly leaves of 

 PhUmiis lychamtis were anciently used for lamp- wicks, a use 

 which the specific name indicates. 



The genus Glechoina, by which a section of the catnip 

 genus is sometimes known signifies thyme or pennyroyal in 

 the Greek. Both of the species mentioned have names that 

 refer to their aromatic qualities. Thymus is an old word 

 for perfume which is reputed to have been given to our plants 

 because of their use in incense, though Wood says the name 

 is derived from thymos, courage, from its invigorating smell. 

 The i)ennyroyal genus is Hedeonia from the Greek edos, 

 sweet, and osina, smell. Originally this is said to have been 

 the name of the mints. Ociiintin is another generic name 

 derived from the Greek osma. 



In so useful a group as the one under discussion, there 

 would naturally be a number of generic names derived from 

 their healing or other properties. One of the most familiar 

 is Salvia the name of the sage genus from the Latin salvare, 

 to save. Then there is Lavendnla from lavare, to wash, in 

 allusion to the well-nigh universal association of lavender 

 with clean clothes. Prunella is a modern spelling of Br\t- 

 nclla a name given to the self-heal from the German braiine 

 meaning quinsy, which this herb was reputed to heal. Lin- 

 naeus gave sanction for spelling the name Prunella, though 

 whether by design or a typographical error seems uncertain. 



