LABIATE loi 



8. MiCROMERiA, Benth. 



Cymes few-flowered, on short stalks, unilateral ; calyx 

 cylindrical, 5 -toothed, not 2-lipped ; corolla 2-lipped, 

 lower lip of three nearly equal lobes ; stamens 4. 



M. Piperella, Benth. (PL lOi); cymes 1-3-flowered, 

 flowers red-purple, corolla with a very long slender tube, 

 leaves small, ovate, sessile, glabrous ; Piedmontese Alps 

 M. grcscay Benth. ; cymes 2-io-flowered, flowers pink, 

 lower leaves oval, upper linear-lanceolate ; Ticino, very 

 rare. 



9. Salvia, L. 



Cymes collected into a leafy spike or raceme; calyx 

 and corolla 2-lipped ; stamens 2, connective long and 

 slender, bearing at its two ends one perfect and one 

 abortive anther-lobe; plant often very fragrant. The 

 peculiar structure of the stamens in the various species 

 of Sage is a remarkable contrivance for cross-pollination. 

 An insect entering the flower in search of honey strikes 

 against the barren anther-lobe, and thus empties on to its 

 back the pollen out of the perfect lobe. At this time the 

 style is very short and the stigmas then immature (pro- 

 terandrous). At a later period the style has elongated 

 greatly, and the two stigmas project out of the corolla. 

 When the insect visits another flower in this condition, 

 the pollen which was lodged on its back is caught by and 

 deposited on the projecting stigma, and the ovules are 

 thus cross-fertiHsed. 



A. Flowers yellow: — 5. ghitinosa, L. ; cymes 2-3- 

 flowered, flowers very large, dirty yellow, upper lip of 

 calyx entire, leaves cordate- hastate, pubescent; moun- 

 tain woods, frequent. 



