^J 



220 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY- 



ones of the other. The series between Solanacew and Borragmece^ both inclusive, forms a 



a 



cle) 



which again bj an easy transition passes into VerbenacecB through the medium of the fructifi- 

 cation, and occasional regular flowers of the latter. "The Verhenaceos alone, having fre- 

 quently the same inflorescence and many of the characters of Labiatce^ approach near enough 

 to occasion any hesitation in drawing the line of separation/' Both orders have irregular 

 labiate flowers, and the "ovarium is slightly lobed in Verbena and other neighbouring genera; 

 and in Cymaria and some Teucria^ it is less lobed than in other Labiatce^ but yet, the distance 

 is considerable in this respect between the former and latter genera. Amongst the genera, 

 in other respects intermediate, Cloanthes has been instanced by Mr, Brown as having the 

 habit of Labiates^ and the characters of VerbenacecB ; and Hoslandia^ on the contrary, as 

 being Verbenaceous in habit with Labiate characters: to these instances may be added the 

 close resemblance, in all but fruit, between Teucriiim^ Betonica^ &c., and Vitis ovata, trifo- 

 liatn^ &c. ; but these examples present no real difficulty and are few compared with the vast 

 extent of both orders.*" Benth. Lab. P. xv. To these examples must now be added 

 skioldia^ at first referred to Labiatce but now placed among the Verbenaceoe, From this it 

 appears that, in a linear series such as is here adopted, this is its proper place. The transition 

 from Verbenaceoc into Labiatce is easy, but there is no other into which Labiatew can 

 similarly pass, the two following orders having no affinity, and appear as if placed at the end 

 of this class, simply to facilitate the passage to the next, with the leading orders of which they 

 have some afiinity. 



Holm 



Geoguaphical Distribution^. Labiatce are scattered over nearly the whole earth. 



The following brief but comprehensive summary of their distribution I copy from Dr. 



Lindley^s Vegetable Kingdom. 



fi 



ably existing between the parallels of 40"^ and 50*^ N. latitude. They are found in abundance 

 in hot dry exposed situations, in meadows, hedgerows and groves ; not commonly in marshes. 

 In France they form l-24;th of the flora; in Germany, l-26th ; in Lapland, l-40th ; the 

 proportion is the same in United States of North America, and within the tropics of the 

 NeAv World (Humboldt) ; in Sicily they are 1-21 of the flowering plants (Priesl) ; in the 

 Balearic Islands, l-19th. About 200 species are mentioned in Wallich's catalogue of the 

 Indian Flora, a large proportion of which is from the Northern provinces. They are not 

 found in Melville Island." 



In Southern India they are most abundant on the tops of the higher ranges of mountains, 



and are very numerous, both as to species and individuals, on the Neilgherries, but many also 

 occur on the plains. 



P 



^ Properties and Uses. On this branch of the subject it can scarcely be needful to dwell, 

 their qualities not being of much consequence to mankind though many of the species contri- 

 bute something to his stock of luxuries and comforts, if not necessaries. So far as yet ascer- 

 tained, the order does not possess a really noxious species, but many very aromatic ones, owing 

 to the large quantities of essential oil secreted by their glands. These essential oils, many 

 of which are admitted mto Pharmacopasia, are useful as carminatives, for expelling flatus, and 

 otten still more so on account of their agreeable aromatic flavour affording a convenient shield 

 to cover the disagreeable taste of other more efiicient medicines ; such are the principle uses 

 ol the Mints, Lavenders, &c. Many are used as condiments in cooking, and some are bitter 

 and tonic and, as such used as strengthening medicines. But upon the whole they are gen- 

 erally much more highly esteemed by the domestic practitioner than by the physician. As 

 articles of perfumery, who does not know the Lavender water and Eau-de-Cologne, both of 

 which derive part of their scent from the Lavender ;, also the Rosemary, a strong infusion 

 of which IS employed to allay the heat of skin in Erysipelatous eruptions, and as a cephalic 

 to relieve headache and excite the mind to vigorous action. "It is also remarkable for its 

 undoubted power of encouraging the growth of hair and curing baldness. It is in fact what 



