46 ENGLISH B(1TANY. 



the corolla, furnished with a pointed appendage beneath the anthers ; 

 anther-cells distinct, divaricate, each cell opening by a separate longi- 

 tudmal cleft. Nucules sessile, smooth. 



Herbs -with entire or pmnatifid leaves, the floral ones bractlike, 

 imbricated. Verticillasters few-flowered, arranged in a dense terminal 

 spike. 



The name of this genus is derived from rruna, a burning coal, because it heals the 

 effects of a burn, or, as some authors say, from the German die Brimne, soi-e throat, 

 from its efficacy in such cases. 



SPECIES I.— P RUNELLA VULGARIS. L'uv. 



Plate MLIX. 



licwh. Ic. FL Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCGXXIII. Fig. 2. 

 BiUof, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2902. 



Leaves (except occasionally the uppermost pair) all shortly 

 stalked, ovate or oblong ovate or oblong-lanceolate, entire, repand or 

 serrate or (rarely) the upper ones puuiatifid, the uppermost pair gene- 

 rally immediately below the spike. Upper lip of the calyx with 3 

 very minute teeth, which are frequently mucronate, from the ribs being 

 excurrent ; lower lip of 2 lanceolate acuminate teeth divided half way 

 down the lip, terminating in weak spines. Corolla scarcely twice as 

 long as the calyx. Longer pair of filaments with a straight subulate 

 point below the anther. 



Li meadows, pastures, hedgebanks, and cultivated ground, heaths, 

 and open woods. Very common, and generally distributed. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer, Autumn. 



Rootstock shortly creeping. Central stem erect or ascending, 3 to 

 18 inches high ; lateral stems generally decumbent ; branches spreading, 

 or in small specimens reduced to fascides of leaves. Leaves with the 

 lamina longer than the petiole, f to 3 mches long, generally subacute, 

 but sometimes obtuse ; in British specimens nearly entii'e or toothed, but 

 in continental ones sometimes pinuatifid. Spikes terminating the stem 

 and 1«'anches, oblong-cylindrical, very dense, f to 4 mches long. Bracts 

 ovate-reniform, cuspidate, green with purple margins, ciliated with 

 pointed hairs. Calyx J- inch long, purple (pale green iu white flowered 

 varieties); the upper teeth very short; all ciliated with pointed hairs. 

 Corolla i to f inch long, dull purplish blue, rarely white. Nucules 

 oblon "--ovoid, compressed-trigonous, yellowish brown, shinmg, very 

 finely shagreened. Plant thinly clothed with jointed hairs, deej) 

 o-rcen, the leaves paler below, and, as well as the stems, frequently tinged 

 witli purple. 



