8 
p 
" 
grucnium-ManumM. . ORD..XIX. Verticillate. — 249% 
and separated into six idbex of these the dntertidst is the largest: 
< calyx is tubular, whitish, woolly, and cut into five short point- 
segments: the filaments are two long and two short, slender, 
white, and furnished with simple anther: the germen is quadrifid, 
and supports a slender style, with a bifid stigma: the seeds are 
four, of a brown colour, and lodged in the calyx, which Serves the 
purpose of a capsule. 
This little shrub flowers from July till September. — It is a native 
of Spain, and is said to grow plentifully also in —— Egypt, 
Crete, and Syria. 
| Whether this plant was known to the ancients or not, does not 
appear from the descriptions of Theophrastus and Dioscorides.— 
Cortusus* discovered that cats are remarkably fond of Marum;* 
and from this circumstance we are enabled with certainty to trace 
back its history to his time, for ever since it has been known by 
the name of Cat-thyme: there occurs however considerable dif- 
ficulty in ascertaining its synonyma ; and probably some of those 
to which we have referred, are not sufficiently identified. It was 
first cultivated in England by Parkinson ° in 1640, anne is now to be 
found in many of our gardens. _ 
The leaves and younger branches of Marum, when recent, on 
being rubbed between the fingers, emit a volatile aromatic ° smell, 
which readily excites sneezinz, but to the taste they are bitterish, 
accompanied with a sensation of heat and acrimony. Lewis observes, 
that “ the Marum loses but little of its pungency on being dried, 
and in this respect it differs remarkably from many° olber acrid 
herbs,. as those called antiscorbutic, It gives out its active matter 
* See Jac. Antonii Cortusi Catalogus Horti Patavini, anno 1591, & J. Banh. l. c. 
* Cats are also known to have a similar fondness for the Reneth Cataria, and ae 
‘ roots of Valeriana off, 
b Vide Aiton’s Hort. Kew. 
. Sakis says,—Ut sal volatile olfactum grato suo et eamphoraceo fere aromate 
nares vellicant, in sternutationem usque, et per momentum = animum eximie 
erigunt, App. Med. vol, 2. p. 108. 
No, 28.—vor. 3. ‘ AN 
- 
