LABIATA. 641 
each lobe ; style 1, basilar (figs. 609 and 1027) ; stigma bifid, 
( figs. 609 and 1027). Fruit composed of from 1—4 acheenia, 
enclosed by the persistent calyx. Seed erect, with little or no 
albumen ; embryo erect, with flat cotyledons ; radicle inferior. 
Diagnosis. —Herbs or shrubby plants, with opposite exstipu- 
late leaves. Flowers irregular, unsymmetrical. Calyx persis- 
tent. Corolla usually more or less bilabiate, with the odd lobe 
anterior. Stamens usually 4 and then commonly didynamous, 
or rarely of equal length ; or only 2 by abortion. Ovary deeply 
4-lobed ; style 1, basilar; stigma bifid. Fruit consisting of 
Fic. 1025. Fic. 1027. Fic. 1028. 
Fig. 1025. Front view of the 
flower of a species of Lamium. 
Fig. 1026. The corolla of the 
Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis ) 
cut open.— /Ff%g. 1027. The co- 
rolla of the Horehound (Mar7-u- 
bium vulgare) cut open. Fig. 
1028. Lobed ovary, style, and 
bifid stigma of the Garden Sage 
(Salvia officinalis). 
from 1—4 acheenia, enclosed by the persistent calyx. Seed 
erect, with little or no albumen; radicle inferior. 
Distribution and Nuwmbers.—Chiefly natives of temperate 
regions. Illustrative Genera :—Mentha, Linn.; Salvia, Linn. ; 
Origanum, Linn.; Lamium, Linn. There are nearly 2,600 
species. . 
Properties and Uses.—The plants of this large order are 
entirely free from any deleterious qualities. They abound in 
volatile oil, and are therefore commonly aromatic, carminative 
and stimulant. All labiate plants also contain more or less of a 
bitter extractive matter, and many of them possess an astringent 
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