LABIATE. 59 



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



A very puzzling plant, which is most probably a hybrid between 

 S. palustris and S. sylvatica, as it is not only intermediate between the 

 two, but appears never to perfect its seeds, while the two supposed 

 parents do so freely under similar conditions. On the other hand, this 

 plant is common in Orkney, where S. sylvatica is very scarce, though 

 S. palustris is most abundant. From S. palustris it differs in being 

 a larger plant, with broader leaves, with the stalk as long as the 

 breadth of the base of the lamina, the lateral mai-gins of which are 

 rounded and not nearly straight, and the base more cordate; the 

 flowers are larger, the tube longer in proportion to the calyx, the 

 colour considerably darker ; the bracteoles are more mmute, and the 

 plant more hairy; in all which points it approximates towards S. 

 sylvatica, which plant, however, has ovate acuminate leaves on stalks 

 longer than the breadth of their base, and still darker flowers with a 

 longer tube and smaller limb. 



SPECIES IV.-STACHYS SYLVATICA. Linn. 



Plate MLXXI. 



Beich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCXI. Fig. 2. 

 Billot, Fl. GaU. et Germ. Exsicc. No 2899. 



Rootstock with long creeping fleshy subterranean stolons. Stem 

 rather stout, erect, branched or simple. Radical leaves not persistent 

 till the time of flowering; stem leaves all distinctly stalked ; petiole 

 of the lower leaves often as long as the lamina ; lamina broadly ovate, 

 cordate, acuminate, coarsely serrate or crenate-serrate ; upper leaves 

 narrower and with shorter stalks. Lowest bracts resembUng the leaves ; 

 bracteoles very mmute, shorter than the pedicels. Verticillasters in a 

 long lax spike-like raceme. Calyx not oblique, sparingly pubescent 

 with long simple and short gland-tipped hairs ; teeth triangular-subu- 

 late, spinous-pointed, as long as the tube. Corolla tube nearly twice 

 as long as the calyx -teeth, shorter than the undermost pair of bracts. 

 Nucules rather dim, finely shagreened. Plant green, sparingly hispid- 

 pubescent with long stiff hairs. 



In woods, shady hedges, and by the sides of streams and ditches. 

 Common, and universally distributed. 



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



Rootstock extensively creeping, but less so than that of S. palustris 

 or S. sylvatici-palustris. Stem 1 to 3 feet high, usually sparingly 

 branched with ascending-incurved branches. Petioles of the lower 

 leaves, particularly those of the autumnal barren rosettes, sometimes 

 5 or 6 inches long; lamma 2 to 5 inches. Raceme more lax than in 



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