416 XCIII. LABIATiE. Lycopos, 



2. M. viRiDis. (M. tenuis. Michx. M. gracilis. Muhl.) Spearmint. 

 Lis. subsessile, obloug-lanceolate, acute, incisely serrate ; l^j-acts setaceous, 



and, with the teeth of the calyx, somewhat hairy; spikes slender, interrupted, 

 attenuate above. — % Can. and U. S. A well known plant, highly esteemed for 

 its agreeable, aromatic properties. It grows in wet soils, rapidly spreading by 

 its creeping roots, with erect, branching, 4-angled stalks, 1 — 2f high. The 

 spikes are somewhat panicled, long, composed of distinct, axillary cymes, ap- 

 parently whorled, a little remote from each other. Peduncles smooth, round, 

 shining. Corollas pale purple. Styles much exserted. 



3. M. PIPERITA. Smith. Peppermint. 



Lvs. smooth, ovate-lanceolate, serrate, petiolate ; bracts lanceolate ; cai. 

 quite smooth at base, punctate. — % This species, introduced from Europe, has 

 become naturalized in wet places, and cultivated in gardens. It has a more 

 penetrating taste and stronger smell than the other species, pungent to the 

 tongue followed by a sensation of coldness. The essence of peppermint is a 

 well known medicine, acting as a cordial, used in flatulency, nausea, &c. It 

 has a purplish stem, 2 — 31 high, with scattered, deflexed hairs. Leaves sharply 

 serrate, dark green. Corolla purplish. July. 



4. M. ARVENsis. Corn Mint. Field Mint. 



St. ascending, much branched ; lvs. ovate, serrate, petiolate, acute, hirsute ; 

 verticils axillary; pedicels smooth; cat. hirsute. — Naturalized in Penn. Ohio, 

 &c., native in Europe. Stem stout, often erect, about If in height. Leaves 

 varying to oblong or ovate-lanceolate, sometimes nearly smooth, about twice 

 longer (1 — 2') than wide, several times longer than the petioles. Flowers 

 small, numerous, pale purple. Stamens exserted. The plant smells like de- 

 cayed cheese. July. 



5. IS ANT H US. DC. 

 Gr. icos, equal, av^oi, the flowers being regular, a character very rare among the labiates. 



Calyx subcampanulate ; corolla 5-parted, tube straight and narrow, 

 segments of the border ovate and equal ; stamens subequal ; stigma 

 linear, recurved. 



I. coERULEUs. Blue Gentian. 



Viscid, hairy ; Its. oval-lanceolate, acute at both ends, 3-veined ; ped. 1 — 

 2-flowered. — % A branching, leafy herb, in dry fields. Northern and Western 

 States ! with the aspect of the pennyroyal. Stem rounded, slender, 12 — 18' 

 high with branches and leaves opposite. Leaves an inch or less in length, and 

 a fourth as wide, distinctly triple-veined. Flowers numerous, blue, with in- 

 cluded stamens. Calyx leaves lanceolate, longer than the tube. July. 



6. LYCOPUS. 



Gr. XvKOS, a wolf. TTOVi, a foot ; a fanciful name. 



Calyx tubular, 4 — 5-cleft ; cor. subregular, 4-cleft, the tube as 

 long as the calyx, upper segment broadest, emarginate ; sta. 2, dis- 

 tant, diverging, simple ; sty. straight, as long as the stamens ; ach. 

 4, obliquely truncate at apex. — % 



1. L. siNUATUs. (L. Europaeus. Michx. L. Americanus. Muhl.) Water 

 ■ Hjarhmmd. — Lvs. oblong-lanceolate, sinuate-dentate, lower ones incised ; 



teeth of the calyx acuminate-spinescent ; st. square, 1 — 2f high ; Jls. small, white, 

 many in a whorl. — A perennial plant, widely diffused throughout the U. States, 

 grov.'ing in damp grounds. In habits and general appearance it resembles the 

 Mentha?, but is sufficiently distinguished by the number of stamens, form of 

 the flattened triquetrous achenia. and its being inodorous. Stem sharply 4- 

 angled, the sides concave, 1 — 2f high. Lower leaves deeply and pinnatifidly 

 toothed. Verticils dense. Calyx teeth longer than the achenia. It dyes a 

 permanent black. Aug. 



2. L. ViRGiNicDs. Virginian Walter Hoarhound. Bugle-ioeed. 



Lvs. broad-lanceolate, serrate, tapering and entire at the base ; caJyx teftk 



