LABIATiE, 69 



GENUS XVII.— -L A M I U M. Linn. 



Calyx funnel-shaped, scarcely enlarging in fruit; limb ascending or 

 at length spi-eading, of 5 teeth, which are scarcely spinous-pointed. 

 Corolla bilabiate ; tube rather long ; upper lip erect, vaulted, entire or 

 slightly notched, usually about as long as the lower one ; lower lip 

 spreading, 3-lobed, the lateral lobes often reduced to small teeth, the 

 middle lobe generally notched. Stamens 4 ; filaments subparallel under 

 the upper lip of the corolla; anthers a^iproximate in pairs, the cells 

 joined at the apex, and diverging nearly in a straight line, opening by 

 a longitudinal slit common to both. Nucules truncate at the summit. 



Decumbent herbs, with succulent stems and ovate or roundish 

 serrate-crenate or cut leaves. Bracts similar to the leaves. Verti- 

 cillasters many-flowered; flowers usually large, rose colour, pink or 

 white, rarely yellow. 



The derivation of the name of this genus of plants is variously given. One anther 

 gives the word Lama, a ditch, as the origin, because the species are usually found in 

 neglected places. Another wi-iter states that the most direct etymology is from 

 Xaifidc, the throat, alluding to the shape of the flower, from which word, says Dr. 

 Withering, " the word Lamia itself is derived, as the name of a certain voracious 

 beast or fish, or of a sorceress supposed to devour children." 



Sub-Genus I.— EU-LAMIUM. ( Lamium, Zm?z.) 



.Under lip of the corolla with a large obcordate central lobe, and 

 2 small lateral lobes resembling teeth. 



SPECIES I.-L AM lUM AMPL E XI C AU LE. Linn. 



Plate MLXXXI. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIH. Tab. MCCJT. Fig. 2. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 212G. 



Annual. Leaves stalked, deltoid- orbicular, subcordate or truncate 

 at the base, obtuse, with a few large rounded entire or notched 

 crenatures on each side. Verticillasters generally distant below. 

 Bracts sessile, or the lower ones subsessile, reniform-orbicular, cor- 

 date, amplexicaul, irregularly inciso-crenate ; each pair (or at least the 

 uppermost ones) with the margins overlapping, so as to be pseudo- 

 connate. Calyx densely pubescent; teeth rather longer than the tube, 

 green, triangular, acummated into subulate points, densely ciliated, 

 connivent after flowering. Corolla tube without an internal rmg of 

 hairs, slender, straight, more than twice as long as the calyx-teeth, 



