LAMIACEJE, OR LABIATJE. 



Europe, and the southern side of the Mediterranean. (Com- 

 mon Lavender.) 



A shrub 1-2 feet high. Leaves oblong-linear or lanceolate, entire, 

 when young hoary and revolute at the edges. Spikes interrupted. 

 Whorls of 6-10 flowers. Floral leaves rhomboid-ovate, acuminate, 

 membranous, all fertile, the uppermost shorter than the calyx. Bracts 

 scarcely any. Benth. — The spikes of flowers contain a fragrant volatile 

 oil in great abundance, together with a bitter principle. They are car- 

 minative, stimulant and tonic, but are more employed in perfumery than 

 in medicine. Leaves'and flowers have been used as sternutatories ; oil 

 of lavender is obtained by distillation, and is sometimes given in 

 hysteria and nervous headach. Spirit of Lavender is prepared by distilling 

 lavender flowers with rectified spirit, a sufficient quantity of water being 

 added to prevent empyreuma. Lavender enters into the composition of 

 Eau de Cologne, and the Vinaigre aux quatre voleurs. 



996. L. Spica DC.fl.fr. v. 397. Benth. lab. 149.— L. Spica 

 ft. Linn. sp. pi. 800. L. latifolia Vill. fl. dauph. ii. 363. — 

 South of Europe, and barren situations on the African side of 

 the Mediterranean. (French Lavender.) 



A shrub rather more dwarf than the last, and more hoary. Leaves 

 oblong-lanceolate, somewhat spathulate, entire, much narrowed at the 

 base, somewhat revolute at the edge, hoary on both sides. Spikes 

 somewhat interrupted. Whorls of from 6 to 10 flowers. Floral leaves 

 lanceolate or linear, all fertile, the upper ones shorter than the cahyx. 

 Bracts linear-subulate, shorter than the calyx. Benth. — This is not 

 employed medicinally, but yields what is called oil of spike, which is 

 used by painters on porcelain and in the preparation of varnishes for 

 artists. 



997. Lavandula Stcechas L. has long been employed medici- 

 ally by the Arabs, who consider it a valuable expectorant and 

 antispasmodic. 



998. Dysophylla Auricularia Blum, has been recommended 

 as a stimulating application in the treatment of deafness. 



MENTHA. 



Calyx campanulate or tubular, 5-toothed, equal or somewhat 

 2-lipped, with the throat naked inside or villous. Corolla with 

 the tube enclosed, the limb campanulate, nearly equal, 4-cleft : 

 the upper segment broader, nearly entire or emarginate. Sta- 

 mens 4, equal, erect, distant; filaments smooth, naked; anthers 

 with 2 parallel cells. Style shortly bifid, with the lobes bearing 

 stigmas at the points. Fruit dry, smooth. Benth. 



999. M. viridis Linn. sp. pi. 804. Sole menth. britt. t. 5. 

 Woodv. t. 170. Eng. Bot. t. 2424. Benth. lab. 173. — Marshy 

 places in the milder parts of Europe, the Canaries, the Cape of 

 Good Hope, and America, both North and South. (Spear 

 Mint.) 



A creeping-rooted herbaceous plant, with an erect smooth stem. 



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