214 SOUTH AFRICAN FLOWERING PLANTS. 



prominent " lip " in front and a hood-like structure 

 behind, composed of two petals (IT.) ; but the lip, which 

 has three lobes in other flowers, is really the single 

 middle petal (III.-IV.). In (III.) the lip is cut in 

 two. The stamens are didynamous, the front pair 

 having, as is the rule, the longer filaments (III.), taking 

 a bend over to the back, and, as in most of the genera, 

 stand erect by the side of the shorter, or posterior pair. 

 The pistil has two carpels (IV.)^ the ovary of which is 

 deeply four-lobed, as in Boraginece, and the style arises 

 from the hasc and not the summit of the four lobes of 

 the ovary, and is therefore called gijnobasic. 



When the ovary becomes the fruit this is then 

 deeply four-lobed, and breaks up into four nutlets (V.), 

 as in Boragincce, etc., and does not form a many- 

 seeded capsule, as in the Scroplmlarinece. This plant is 

 called " Wild Dagga," the corolla of which is of a bright 

 scarlet colour and a velvety texture. The leaves are 

 smoked by the natives ; but, unlike Indian hemp and 

 tobacco, no member of the " Labiates " is poisonous. 

 Hence, many are grown as kitchen-herbs, especially on 

 account of the strong perfumes they possess, due to 

 glandular hairs, which secrete scented ethereal oils, such 

 as lavender, thyme, mint, sage, etc. 



Men'tha. — There are four species of " Mint " in 

 South Africa, occurring along watercourses. The flowers 

 are very small, and are not so irregular as those of most 

 of the genera (Fig. SG). 



