WOOD BETONY 85 
A fungus, Puccinza menthe, attacks the leaves. 
A beetle, Weligethes /ugubris, several Lepidoptera, Dark Brocade, 
Hadena adusta, Tortrix dumetana, Gelechia subocellea, Pterophorus 
tetradactylus, Pyrausta puniceatis, Purple and Gold Moth, Woéhrzs 
durdhamella, Coleophora albitarsella, visit it. 
Origanum, Theophrastus, is from the Greek o7os, hill, and ganos, 
joy, and the second Latin name indicates its general occurrence, 
which is a mistake, as it is rather local. 
This plant is named Argans, Marjoram, English Marjoram, Orga- 
ment, Organ, Organy, Pot Marjoram. 
The dried leaves have been used for tea and in fomentations. Mar- 
joram yields an essential oil, which is acrid, caustic, and highly aromatic. 
Marjoram has been used for toothache. The plant has also been used 
by farriers. A purple dye for wool has been obtained from it, and 
linen has been dyed reddish-brown with it. It has a pungent taste, 
like Thyme. It was put in beer to make it intoxicating. The tea has 
been used in cases of stomach weakness and breast troubles. 
EssenTIAL SpecirIC CHARACTERS :— 
249. Origanum vulgare, L.—Stem erect, branched, leaves serrate, 
ovate, purple, bracts exceeding the purple flowers in a crowded 
panicled cyme. 
Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis, Trev.) 
Wood Betony is found throughout the Temperate Northern Zone 
in Europe, N. Africa, and W. Siberia, but has not been met with in 
early deposits. In Great Britain it grows in the Peninsula, Channel, 
Thames, Anglia, and Severn provinces; in S. Wales generally except 
in Radnor; in N. Wales generally except in Montgomery, Merioneth; 
throughout the Trent province, Mersey, Humber, Tyne, and Lakes pro- 
vinces except the Isle of Man; in the West Lowlands except Peebles, 
Selkirk, Haddington; and in Mid and E. Perth; in E. Highlands, 
in the N. Ebudes, in the W. Highlands. It ranges thus from Skye 
and Ross southwards, but it is rare in Scotland and Ireland. In 
Northumberland it is found at 1200 ft. 
The name Wood Betony indicates the chief habitat of this species. 
It certainly loves the shade and is at home in woods, but it is frequent 
by the roadside, and is also found on heaths and commons with Grassy 
Stitchwort, Tormentil, Furze, &c. 
The stem is erect, simple, square, with blunt angles, rough, with 
rigid bristles, turned back, and bent. The radical leaves are on long 
