12S ORDER GYMNOSPERMIA. 



Calyx is bilabiate. 



Here you will find the Marjoram (Origanum), 

 which has the flowers collected into a dense 4-sided 

 spike, and the upper lip of the corolla straight, flat, and 

 emarginate. The common species (O. vulgare) will 

 be met with in dryish fields, somewhat elevated, 

 in flower from June to October, or even November. 



Dracoctphalum, or Dragon's-head, of which the 

 United States afford several fine perennial species, 

 may be known, at once, by the remarkable inflation 

 of the orifice of the corolla; the upper lip is concave, 

 and the stamina unconnected. The D. virginicum is 

 rather a tall plant, (at least when cultivated,) and re- 

 markable for its very regularly arranged, crowded, 

 and elongated spikes of conspicuous pink flowers. Its 

 leaves are also narrow, lanceolate, and serrate. 



Prunella, or Self heal, common every where, but 

 particularly by way-sides, is readily distinguished by 

 its dense spikes of bright blue flowers ; and by the ca- 

 lyx, of which the upper lid is flat and dilated ; but 

 more particularly recognisable by its forked filaments 

 (not articulated as in Sage), one of the points only be- 

 ing antheriferous. 



Scutellaria, or Skullcap, is at once known from all 

 the other Labiatje by the peculiarity of its calyx ; 

 the upper lip covering the fruit like an operculum or 

 lid, and with its edges entire. There are a considera- 

 ble number of species in the United States, all of them 

 bearing blue flowers, curved upwards, and having a 

 wide orifice to the corolla. The S. galericulata, with 

 cordate lanceolate, subsessile, crenated leaves, and 

 axillary, solitary flowers, has been somewhat celebrat- 

 ed as a specific for hydrophobia ; but it is, in all pro- 

 bability, very little entitled to such merit. 



The Trichostema, or Blue-curls, is a genus peculiar 



