Avicennia. | VERBENACE. 567 
Nort Isnanp: Muddy creeks and estuaries from the North Cape to 
Opotiki on the East Coast and Kawhia on the west. Manawa ; Mangrove. 
The Chatham Islands locality quoted in the Handbook on the authority 
of Dieffenbach is certainly erroneous. Probably he mistook flowerless speci- 
mens of Olearia Traversii for it. Forster’s name of A. resinifera was applied 
under the supposition that it produced a gum-resin which was eaten by the 
Maoris. This mistake doubtless originated through drifted pieces of kauri-gum 
(which was formerly used by the Maoris as a masticatory) having been picked 
up on some beach amongst the roots of Avicennia. 
Orper LIX. LABIATAE, 
Herbs or shrubs, the stems and branches usually quadrangular. 
Leaves opposite or whorled, frequently replete with glands con- 
taining an aromatic volatile oil; stipules wanting. Flowers her- 
maphrodite, irregular, solitary or in small axillary opposite cymes 
or clusters which are often aggregated into terminal spikes or 
racemes. Calyx inferior, persistent, 4—5-toothed or -cleft, or. 2- 
lipped. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous; limb more or less 
2-lipped, rarely equal; lobes 4-5, imbricate. Stamens inserted 
on the corolla-tube, usually 4 and then often didynamous, some- 
times 2 only; anther-cells separate or confluent. Ovary superior, 
of 2 connate deeply 2-lobed carpels and hence 4-partite, 4-celled ; 
style simple, proceeding from between the lobes of the ovary ; 
stigma usually 2-fid; ovules solitary in each cell, erect, anatro- 
pous. Fruit enclosed in the persistent calyx, of 4 1-seeded nutlets. 
Seeds small, erect; albumen wanting or nearly so; radicle next the 
hilum. 
A very large and exceedingly natural family, quite cosmopolitan in its 
distribution, but most abundant in the warm-temperate portion of the Northern 
Hemisphere. Genera close upon 150 ; species not far from 2600. Most of the 
species are strongly aromatic, and have stimulating or tonic properties. Some 
are used as condiments, as thyme, spearmint, sage, marjoram, sweet basil, 
&c. The essential oils obtained from peppermint, lavender, rosemary, and other 
species are used medicinally. Many brilliant garden-plants belong to the 
order, especially of the genus Salvia. The meagre representation of the 
family in New Zealand is one of the chief peculiarities of the Flora. Only 
2 genera occur, both of which have a wide distribution in temperate and 
warm regions. On the other hand, many species of northern origin have 
become naturalised since the commencement of European settlement, as will 
be seen on reference to the list of introduced plants given in the appendix. 
Calyx 10-nerved. Corolla almost regular, lobes flat. Sta- 
mens 4, equal, erect Ba as a ac 
Calyx 2-lipped, closing over the fruit. Corolla 2-lipped. 
Stamens 4, didynamous bo Ae ag 
1. Menta. 
2. SCUTELLARIA. 
1. MENTHA, Linn. 
Strong-scented perennial herbs; rootstock creeping, stoloniferous. 
Leaves opposite. Flowers small, often axillary and solitary in the 
New Zealand species, but in others frequently arranged in many- 
flowered whorls or clusters, which are often aggregated into terminal 
