THE VERBENA FAMILY 109 



(c) Other Labiates. 



This fami^ly is but poorly represented in the tropics. Thej 

 are chiefij found in the northern temperate zone, where they 

 thrive best in a dry, sunny situation like most aromatic plants. 

 Some common Indian species are, besides Leucas and Tulasi, 

 Sweet Basil (Ocimum basiliciim; Kan. Kamakasturi; Med. Rama- 

 tulasi), and the Dog Tulasi (Ocimum camim). 



"Lavender and Salvia for their flowers, and Coleus for 

 foliage, are old-fashioned favourites in gardens; but perhaps 

 the sweet herbs of the kitchen-garden are still better known — 

 Mint, Thyme, Marjoram, Rosemary, Savory." 



25. The Verbena Family 



(Verbenaceae). 



Plants resembling those belonging to the Labiatce. The distinction 

 of the two families lies in the structure of the ovary. The Verbena 

 Family has a four-celled ovary originating also from two carpels, but 

 with a terminal style. Fruit mostlj^ a drupe or a berry. 



The Teak Tree {Tectona grandis). 



</t«/i. Teg-u, Sagoni. .l/aLTekkii. Tarn. Tekku. Td. Teku. //m. Sagvan. Saw. Teka.) 



1. Trunk and Wood. — The Teak tree is one of the most useful 

 timber-trees of Western India. Its wood, being fairly hard and 

 very durable, is especially useful for shipbuilding. It also con- 

 tains an oil which preserves the nails driven into it. 



If the trunk is sawn through, a number of concentric circles 

 can be seen on the section. These are found also in most other 

 trees and are called annual rings, as one ring is generally formed 

 in a year (fig. 21, page 24). They consist of alternate layers 

 of soft and hard wood. This may be tested with the point of a 

 knife. The soft wood is formed during the rapid and luxuriant 

 growth of the tree in the monsoon, when the tree is covered 

 with its enormous leaves and there is plenty of moisture, and 

 the leaves are absorbing large quantities of carbonic acid gas 



