MINT FAMILY 193 



of many composites, the spicy pungency of the carrot 

 family, and the aromatic flavor of many mints are family 

 characteristics that help the amateur botanist to guess the 

 relationship of a new plant. 



Each family has special characteristics, which in di- 

 versity of form run through the species. In the mints the 

 differences in the shape of the irregular corollas, in the 

 calyx, and in the stamens are of especial interest. The 

 stamens are generally in two pairs of unequal length, 

 but in several genera one pair is lacking or abortive. 



Florida has many species of this large family. The 

 majority grow only in dry soil, and many of them are 

 found only in the far South. Eed sage and red basil, blue 

 sage and wild savory are attractive plants that ornament 

 many places in Florida. 



Different species of mint are used in medicine, flavor- 

 ing, and perfume, and notwithstanding their tragic origin 

 — when Proserpine, from jealousy, changed the daughter 

 of Cocytus into a mint — it was long ago declared that 

 their chief virtue was "to procure a cheerful and merry 

 heart.'' Sage was praised as ''Salvia salvatrix. Naturae 

 conciliatrix/' 



KEY TO THE MINT FAMILY 



Flowees Red, Orange, ob Yellow page 



Flowers red, Iva. toothed, stamens 2 Salvia 196 



Flowers red, Ivs. entire, stamens 4 Clinopodium 198 



Flowers orange or reddish, Ivs. toothed, stamens 4 



Leonotis 195 



Flowers yellowish, spotted, stamens 2 Monarda 197 



Flowers Pink or Pinkish 



Flowers 1 inch long, Ivs. smooth Physostegia 195 



Flowers smaller, Ivs. minutely hairy Teucrium 194 



Flowers Blue 



Stamens 2 Salvia 196 



Stamens 4, fls. in racemes Scutellaria 194 



Stamens 4, fls. not in racemes Trichostema 194 



