16 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
LABIATE A. 
4 JUSSIEU. 
TEE RINT TRIBE. 
Lamiacex.—Lindley. . 
EssentiaL Cuar.—Calyz tubular, inferior, persistent, the odd tooth being near the axis ; regular five or ten- 
toothed, or irregular bilabiate, three or ten-toothed. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, bilabiate ; the lesser lip undi- 
vided or bifid, overlapping the lower, which is larger and three-lobed. Stamens four, didymous, inserted upon the 
corolla, alternately with the lobes of the lower lip; the two upper sometimes wanting. Anthers two-celled, sometimes 
apparently unilocular, in consequence of the confluence of the cells at the apex; sometimes one cell altogether obsolete, 
or the two cells separated by a bifurcation of the connective. Ovary deeply four-lobed, seated in a fleshy hypogynous 
disk; the lobes each containing one erect ovule. Style one, proceeding from the base of the lobes of the ovary. 
Stigma bifid, usually acute. Fruit one to four small nuts, enclosed within the persistent calyx. Seeds erect, with 
little or no albumen. Embryo erect. Cotyledons flat. pec ? 
Herbaceous plants or undershrubs: Stem angulated, with opposite ramifications. Leaves opposite, divided or 
undivided, without stipules; replete with receptacles of aromatic oil. Flowers in opposite, nearly sessile, axillary 
cymes, resembling whorls ; sometimes solitary, or as if capitate. (Lzindley.) a al 
The plants appertaining to this tribe are, for the most part, odoriferous ; some are fetid. They contain a vo 
oil, which resides in secreting glands. This oil is camphoraceous frequently, or disposed to furnish stearoptene (cat- 
phor). .They also contain a bitter and astringent principle. The medical properties are stimulating and tonic. 
' 
MENTHA PIPERITA. 
LINNEUS. 
PEPPERMINT. 
Sex. Syst.—Didynamia, Gymnospermia. 
Gen. Cuar.—Caly 
ing hairs. Petioles generally ciliated. Leaves ov 
if OO 
shortly stalked. Bracts sub bir a. » oblong, obtuse, reddish spike; the lowermost Sage Wier an 
hispid. (Bentham. Lj ‘ outer ones as long as the calyx. Pedicels quite smoo oe 
This plant is wide-spread. It grows all over Euro 
in this country early in the summer. 
The whole herb is Officinal. It is kept j t : ; tg ereen appearance. 
It has a peculiar aromatic odour, a pt in the shops in the dried state, and should preserve its g 
. . = 
3 oe nd a warm bitin slightly bitter taste. It contains a volatile oil, Olewm 
Piperite, some resin, bitter extractive and tannin. : — | 
Asa medicine, it is a@ warm ar 
gee oe ‘| obtained 
ET De atm omatic stimulant. T+ ; i : i fusion. The oil 0 : 
by distillation is officinal: from it {t is used in the fresh or dried state in in a 
wers 
pe, in India, Africa, and North and South America. It flo 
| are prepared the spirit of pe ermint, and the water. 
oats LXII—Represents the plant and the Slower a fruit 
