86 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



tion, but generally the upper side of the leaves has the green colour 

 not at all obscured by the hairs. 



Wood Germander. 



Frencli, Germandree des hois. German, Salvethldttriger Gamander. 

 This plant is freqiiently called the Wood Sage. Its leaves and flowers are very- 

 bitter in flavour, and the whole herb possesses strongly tonic as well as aromatic 

 qualities. The essential oil present in most of the order, exists in small proportion in 

 the Wood Sage, but the bitter taste is due to the presence of a peculiar tonic principle 

 found in all the species of the genus, and perhaps in more or less quantities in all 

 Labiate plants. Formerly the Wood Sage was valued as a tonic medicine, but it has 

 fallen into disuse. It is also employed in some districts as a substitute for hops in 

 brewing, and in Jersey and some parts of France is known as " Ambroise," or " Am- 

 brosia." It is said to communicate a pleasant flavour to ale, but it makes the ale 

 very dark in colour. 



EXCLUDED SPECIES. 

 ORIGANUM ONITES. Linn. 



Said to have been found on the left hand of the road between 

 Braintree and Raine below the bridge, Essex. No doubt 0. vulgare 

 was mistaken for it. 



ORIGANUM VIRENS. Lmh. & Eoffm. 



A pale variety of 0. vulgare, found in the Isle of Wight by Dr. J. E. 

 Gray, was entered as possibly 0. virens in the Loudon catalogue. 



HYSSOPUS OFFICINALIS. L!,m. 



According to the late Dr. Bromfield, the Hyssop is naturalised on 

 the ruins of Beaulieu Abbey, in the New Forest, Hants. 



SCUTELLARIA HASTIFOLIA. Lmn. 



Two fragments of this plant were sent to the Botanical Society of 

 London, labelled " S. galericulata, Ickleford Common, Hertford- 

 shire." Cyb. Brit. Vol. IL p. 268. 



STACHYS LANATA. Linn. 



Planted, or escaped from cultivation, in several places, as in the 

 Woods at Calvas Hall, Thirsk, Avhcre it was taken for S. Germanica. 

 I have a specimen from " Norfolk " under the latter napie. 



