i84 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



kidnej^-shaped or heart-shaped, entire, with a scal- 

 loped margin. The lower leaves have longer stalks. 



The flowers are bluish-purple, stalked, in axillary 

 whorls of three to six flowers, arranged all one side. 

 The flowering stems are ascending. There are awl- 

 like bracts which equal the short ultimate flower- 

 stalks. The flowers are of two kinds, dimorphic, the 

 larger hermaphrodite, the smaller ones female. But 

 the latter may be the only ones found on the plant, 

 and this form constitutes the variety parviflora. The 

 calyx-teeth are ovate, long and narrow-pointed, 

 awned. The tube of the corolla varies in length, 

 being usually twice as long as the calyx, but often 

 three or four times in the complete flowers. The 

 nutlets are oblong with impressed dots. 



Ground Ivy is from 6-18 in. in height. It flowers 

 early in March, continuing up till May or later. It 

 is a herbaceous perennial, propagating itself freely by 

 offsets. 



In the floral mechanism Ground Ivy, like Catmint, 

 differs from other Labiates in the arrangement of 

 the stamens. In the latter the outer stamens project 

 beyond the inner, whereas in Nepeta the inner are 

 the longer. The flowers are conspicuous, and bloom 

 early so that they are much visited. They are very 

 numerous, too, on the same plant. As noted above 

 they are dimorphic. The smaller form must of 

 necessity, if seed be set, be cross-pollinated, as 

 stamens are absent. The tube of the corolla is lined 

 with hairs, which protect the honey. The large- 



