82 DIDYNAMIA— GYMNOSPERMIA. Mentha. 



in variety S. They vary but little in shape ; but often acquire 

 a dark purplish hue. Fl. of a light blueish purple, numerous 

 and crowded ; in a, /3 and y capitate, with one or more pair of 

 stalked axillary whorls below the head ; in o the head becomes a 

 spike, with several ivhorls, more or less remote j in s the whole 

 - s/^iAre is whorled, and somewhat leafy J in the rest all the ^0M;ers 

 are whorled and axillary. Braclens lanceolate, hairy. Flower- 

 stalks densely covered, for the most part, but especially at the 

 summit, with recurved, sometimes close-pressed, white hairs. 

 Cat. tubular, furrowed, mostly purplish, besprinkled with resi- 

 nous dots, and clothed with hairs, various in length, all con- 

 stantly curved in a contrary direction from those of the stalks. 

 Cor. hairy externally. Stam. various in length. The lower 

 whorls are usually stalked. 

 Botanists have been very unwilling to believe the curious change 

 of a capitate Mint to a whorled one ; but this alteration may 

 often be traced in the same ditch. Some copy me for this fact, 

 without adverting to its author or seeming conscious of its hav- 

 ing ever been disputed. 1 have received dried as well as living 

 specimens, from the late Mr. Sole, of all his varieties, of this 

 and other species, and have cultivated them in a dry garden, as 

 well as in a very wet one. I have observed all the difficult 

 ones, year after j^ear, in their wild situations, and have no doubt 

 that all these varieties of M. hirsuta especially, constitute but 

 one species. Occasional examinations, during the course of 25 

 years, have not only confirmed this opinion, but have also ascer- 

 tained the truth of the essential characters derived from the pu- 

 bescence of the cahjx and Jlower-s talks, as being decisive with- 

 out any exception. 1 regret that my friend Mr. Sole took great 

 offence at my not following all his names and errors ; but I 

 hope I have never corrected them unhandsomely, nor do I mean 

 to undervalue his book, which is a valuable record of the several 

 varieties of this difficult genus, though no guide at all as to the 

 limits or names of the species. Professor Hooker, in the most 

 flattering terms, confirms my account of this Mintj but the 

 hairs on the flower-stalks, in his otherwise excellent plate, are 

 not enough deflexed. 



7. M. acutifolia. Fragrant Sharp-leaved Mint. 



Flowers whorled. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, tapering at 

 each end. Calyx hairy all over. Hairs of the flower- 

 stalks spreading. 



M. acutifolia. Sm. Tr. of Linn. Soc. v. 5. 203. Fl. Br. CI 9. Engl. 

 Bat V. 34. <. 2415. Hull 173. 



M. verticillata. Mill. Diet. ed.8. 7i. ]/. From Ids own herbarium. 



M. verticillata aromatica, folio longiore et acutiore. Rand Ms. 



M. aquatica verticillata, odoris grati. Herb. Buddie. 



About the banks of rivers, rare. 



