DEAD-NETTLES 153 
it. First come the Dead- (2.e. non-stinging) nettles; next 
the Plantains, in which cage-birds delight; then the Speed- 
wells, with the Foxglove, Toadflax, and Mullein. The 
Toothworts and Butterworts come next, their interest 
lying not so much in their flowers as in their curious 
way of getting a living. Both we shall meet again, 
the first amongst the parasitic flowering plants, and the 
second amongst the insect-eaters; so we shall hear no 
more of them in this chapter, nor of the Dodder, which 
must also be placed in the interesting but rather un- 
pleasant category of the parasites, which make other 
plants do their work for them. The Nightshade tribe 
cannot be omitted, for its importance comes home to 
anyone who either loves or hates tobacco; and the 
Borages, including the Forget-me-not, come close upon 
it. The Gentians come towards the close, followed by 
the Primroses and Pimpernels, and the list is completed 
by the Heaths, with their attendant Bilberries. Those 
of you who have begun your flower collecting will see 
how many of one’s most pleasant captures are descend- 
ants of these noble families. 
Let us look first at the very well-marked order of 
the dead-nettles, or, as they are known in Botany, the 
Labiates. This technical name is for once really useful, 
for if you remember that “dabiwm” is the Latin word for 
lip, you will also call to mind the striking peculiarity of 
the flowers of this order. The corolla, mostly red in 
colour, sometimes blue, very rarely yellow, comes up from 
its base in a tube, and then, in place of expanding flat- 
wise, the tube splits into two lips, giving the appearance 
of a gaping mouth (see illustration), the top part arching 
over the stamens like a helmet, the bottom forming an 
admirable platform on which insect visitors may rest, 
