CLASS XIV. ORDER I.J LAMIUM. 811 



Root with long creeping suckers. Stem procumbent, simple, ob- 

 tusely angular, leafy, downy, often of a purplish hue. Leaves petio- 

 lated, the lower ones small, kidney-shaped, obtusely crenated, the 

 upper ones larger, sub-ovate, heart-shaped, acutely crenated, more or 

 less downy, paler and veiny beneath. Inflorescence axillary whorls of 

 mostly six flowers, the pedicles short, downy, and the bracteas slender, 

 bristle-shaped, and hairy. Calyx tubular, numerously ribbed, some- 

 what curved downwards towards the end, the mouth oblique, and the 

 teeth ovate, acute, bristle-pointed, ciliated. Corolla downy, the tube 

 long, nearly cylindrical, a pale lilac, the lips violet, spotted in the 

 throat, with small deep violet spots. Stamens parallel beneath the 

 upper lip. Anthers before bursting converging together into the form 

 of a cross. Seeds oblong, smooth, somewhat angularly compressed. 



Habitat, — Hedges and dry shady banks ; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in April and May. 



This is an extremely variable plant in size and hairiness, and the 

 colour of its flowers vary in the intensity of their hue, and they have 

 been observed quite white. The leaves when fresh have a peculiar 

 strong disagreeable smell, and a bitter somewhat aromatic taste. 

 Formerly it was highly esteemed for its numerous virtues, and was 

 used to give ale a peculiar flavour. Its use is now, however, very 

 limited, and chiefly given as a drink for the relief of coughs. 



GENUS VIII. LA'MIUM.— Linn. Dead-nettle. 



Nat. Ord, Labia'tje. Juss. 



Gen. Char. Calyx campanulate, ten ribbed, with five nearly equal 

 teeth. Corolla with the upper lip entire, arched, the lower one 

 mostly with one or two teeth on each side at the base, the tube 

 with the throat inflated, and encircled with a hairy ring. — Name 

 from Xa.ijj.O';, the throat ; so called on account of the shape of 

 the corolla. 



* Tube of the corolla curved. 

 1. L. vuVgatum^ Benth. (Fig. 933.) Common Dead-nettle. Leaves 

 ovate lanceolate, heart-shaped or truncated at the base, deeply and 

 unequally serrated ; calyx with long awl-shaped teeth ; corolla with a 

 long tube, curved upwards, uilh a ring of hairs within, the throat 

 dilated, upper lip oblong, arched, concave, the lateral lobes of the 

 lower one with a long subulate tooth. 

 Lindley, Synopsis, p. 203. 



a,, album. Flowers white, tube of the calyx straight. 

 L. album, Linn. — English Botany, t. 768. — English Flora, vol. iii. 

 p. 90. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 231. cc. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 203. /3. 



