LABIATiE. 5 1 



SPECIES I.— M ARRUBIUM VULGAR E. Linn. 



Plate MLXIV. 



Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCXXIV. Fig. 1. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2518. 



Leaves roundish-ovate or rhombic-ovate, strongly and ii-regularly 

 crenate or crenate-serrate, rugose, hoary woolly below, especially when 

 young. Verticillasters many-flowered, subglobular. Calyx woolly 

 with 10 ascending-spreadmg subulate spinous teeth, hooked at the 

 apex, the alternate ones smaller. Upper lip of the corolla strapshaped, 

 much longer than the lower, bifid at the apex, the division not reaching 

 half way down the lip. 



In waste places. Rare, and probably not native in many of its stations. 

 Generally distributed in the southern half of England, extending in 

 Scotland to the counties of Haddington and Fife, and even occurring 

 in IMoray, though there is little doubt that it is not native there. Rare 

 m Ireland, and confined to the south and middle of the island. 



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



Stem much branched from the base, 9 to 18 inches high, densely 

 cottony, especially when young. Leaves shortly stalked, lamuia 

 f to 14 inch long. Flowers ^ inch long, white. Nucules very dark 

 brown, abovate-oblong, subtrigonous, truncate, rather fijiely shagreened 

 with small points. Plant hairy, white, the upper side of the leaves 

 generally green, but sometimes hoary like the rest of the plant. 



White Horehound. 



Frencli, Marruhe commun, German, gemeiner Andorn. 



The etymology of the comm.on name of this plant is given by Dr. Prior as comino- 

 from liara lauie, the ancient Saxon from hara, a hare, and luiue, a hound. In oneilS. 

 he says the reading is liara-kunig-hare, honey. The name may be a corruption of the 

 Latin Urinaria, the plant ha\-ing been regarded as of great efficacy in certain diseases 

 of the excretions. It is a well known old domestic remedy for coughs and other 

 pectoral complaints, but is now seldom used in medicine by regular practitioners. 

 In large doses it acts as a laxative and diuretic, in small doses as a tonic and stimu- 

 lant. An infusion of a handful of the leaves is a good remedy for coughs. Syrup of 

 Horehound and candied Horehound are often used for the same purpose. Linnaeus 

 records an instance in which salivation, caused by the use of mercurial medicines, was 

 removed by the administration of this infusion after every other remedy had failed. 

 The plant should be gathered when in flower. ' It may be used in the dry state, but 

 is certainly less active than when fresh. 



GENUS XIII. —B A L L O T A. Linn. 



Calyx funnelshaped-salvershaped, often enlarging in fruit, regular, 

 not bilabiate ; limb at length spreading, with 5 teetli, often with 5 



H 2 



