2 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Marsh or water herbs with toothed or pinnatifid leaves ; those (bracts) 

 from which verticillasters of flowers are produced, similar to the leaves. 

 Flowers small, crowded, sessile, white or lilac. 



The name of this genus of plants conies from the Greek words Xvkoq (lukos), a 

 wolf and ttouc (ports), a foot. 



SPECIES I.— LYCOPUS EUROP^US. L!nn. 



Plate JIXIX. 



Belch. Ic. El. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCXCI. Fig. I. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1295. 



Leaves shortly stalked, elliptical or ovate-elliptical, attenuated at 

 each end, especially towards the apex, inciso- serrate, commonly pin- 

 natifid or pinnati partite at the base. Calyx teeth equal, linear-subulate. 

 Fertile stamens 2, barren ones rudimentary, extremely small, or absent. 

 Nucules about as long as the calyx-tube. 



In wet places or in shallow water. Common, and generally dis- 

 tributed in England. Rare in Scotland, extending to Kincardineshire, 

 where it occurs at Ury ; and Ross-shire, where it is found near Strath- 

 petFer. Frequent, but rather local, in Ireland. 



England, Scotland, Ii-eland. Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 



Rootstock extensively creeping, emitting numerous stolons.* Stem 

 erect, 1 to 3 feet high, solid, quadrangular, tough, with numerous 

 opposite branches in the lower part, or, in small specimens, simple. 

 Leaves subsessile, 2 to G inches long, the lower lobes generally 

 connected only by an herbaceous strip. Rracts all foliaceous, the 

 lower ones undistinguishable from the leaves, the uppermost smaller 

 and less deeply cut, and with the basal segments not separated. Ver- 

 ticillasters many-flowered, dense, rather distant, occupying the upper 

 third of the stem, and the whole of the upper branches. Flowers 

 sessile, about -^ inch long. Corolla a little longer than the calyx, 

 blush-white, the lower lip broader than the others, and with a i'aw 

 purplish spots. Sterile stamens often undistinguishable. Nucules 

 obovate, trigonously plano-convex, truncate at the apex, with a corky 

 margin at the sides. Plant subglabrous or slightly pubescent, espe- 

 cially on the stem and veins of the leaves beneath, green, the stem and 

 calyx teeth generally tinged with purple. 



* This plant has heen described as destitute of stolons, but this is certainly erro- 

 neous. Stolons are commonly abundantly produced ; they are generally subterranean,' 

 and resemble those of tlie genus ^Mentha, but occasionally, as in the Mints, they 

 appear above ground, and are furnished i\-ith small leaves. 



