244 THE SAGE FAMILY. 



exceedingly minute, and the lower lip the principal part of the flower. 

 Stamens four, usually two long ones and two short ones ; sometimes, 

 by defect, only two in all. In the former case they are called " didy- 

 namous." (Fig. 148.) Pistil one; stigmas two; ovary four-lobed, 

 when ripe separating into four little dry and one-seeded achenia, 

 which lie like naked seeds at the bottom of the persistent calyx. The 

 calyx, like the leaf, is often thickly sprinkled with bags of oil, and (as 

 in the common garden sage) forms an exquisite object for micro- 

 scopical examination. Parti-coloured flowers are frequent in this 

 family, and in many species the anthers are of some unusual and vivid 

 tint. The fragrance which distinguishes the aromatic kinds is in a 

 few cases exchanged for repugnant foetor, as in the black horehound 

 and the hedge wound-wort. It is to be observed that the upper lip of 

 the coroUa, consisting of two united petals, is opposite the three 

 united sepals of the two-lipped calyx ; and that the two imited sepals 

 which form the upper half of the calyx, are opposite the three united 

 petals of the corolla. 



Fifty-eight species grow wild in England, of which there are found 

 near Manchester twenty-seven, or nearly one half, the absent ones 

 being such as love limestone. The wild thyme, that forms those 

 sweet and springy beds on which we seat ourselves to admire the sea 

 at Clevedon or Peel Castle, is here unknown ; the wild marjoram and 

 the vervain-sage are sought in vain ; Manchester, however, possesses 

 some of the very handsomest as to flowers. 



Section 1. 



Flowers yellow, white, or huff-colour, sometimes freckled with darker colours. 



A. 

 Flowers in lateral panicles, all pointing one way; corolla 

 pale straw-colour, the upper lip absent; stamens 

 purplish-red, protruding. Leaves oval, puckered, 

 stalked 0. Common Gekmandek. 



B. 

 Flowers mingled with leaves, in loose, pyramidal, ter- 

 minal heads; calyx prickly ; stem swollen at the 

 joints, and rough with reliexed bristles. I;eaves 

 egg-shaped, deeply serrate, pointed, and stalked. 

 Corolla half an inch long, inconspicuous ; llowers [ 17. Common Hemp- 



White i NETTLE. 



Corolla an inch long, pale yellow, with a large violet] 18. Large Vauiegated 

 spot on the lower lip i Hemp-netti.e. 



