610 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



Diagnosis. — Herbs or shrubby plants with opposite exstipulate 

 leaves. Flowers irregular, unsymmetrical. Calyx persistent. 

 Corolla more or less bilabiate. Stamens didynamous, or 2 by 

 abortion. Ovary deeply 4-lobed ; style 1, basilar ; stigma bifid. 

 Fruit consisting of from 1 — 4 achajnia, enclosed by the persistent 

 calyx. Seeds erect, with little or no albumen. 



Distribution, ^c. — Chiefly natives of temperate regions. Ex- 

 amples : — Lavandula, Pogostemon, Salvia, Rosmarinus, Origa- 

 num, Scutellaria, Frostanthera, Nepeta, Lamium, Marrubium, 

 Stenogyne, Ajujja. There are 129 genera, and 2350 species. 



Properties and Uses The plants of this order are altogether 



free from any deleterious qualities. They abound in volatile oil 

 frequently containing a Stearoptene ; hence they are 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 principle, hence they are frequently 

 tonic and stomachic. Several are used in perfumery on account 

 of their agreeable odours ; and many are employed by the cook 

 for flavouring, &c., such as Thymus vulgaris (Common or Garden 

 Thyme), Thymus citriodorus (Lemon Thyme), Salvia officinalis 

 ^Sagc), Origanum vulgare (Common Marjoram), Majorana hor- 

 tensis (Sweet Marjoram), Satureja montana (Winter Savory), 

 Saturejahortensis (Summer Savory), &c. The fleshy underground 

 stems of Stachys palustris and of a species of Ocymum are edible. 



Ocymum album is used in India as Tea, which is known as Toolsie Tea. 



Lavandula— 'Y\\<i flowering heads of L. vera. Common Lavender, yield by 

 distillation with water English Oil of Lavender, which is largely used in per- 

 fumery ; and also in medicine as a stimulant, stomachic, and carminative. 

 The flowers are also employed as a sternutatory. The flowering heads of 

 L. spica or latifuUa, French Lavender, yield Oil of Spike or Foreign Oil of 

 Lav(Mider, which has a much less agreeable odnur than the English Oil, and 

 is not employed medicinally, but principally by painters and varnish-makers, 

 and to adulterate English Oil of Lavender. L. St^ec/ias also yields by distil- 

 lation an essential oil, which is commonly distinguished as the True Oil of 

 Spike. 



Pogoslemon Patchouli, Pucha-Pat or Pafchouly. — This plant is a native 

 of Penang and the Malayan peninsula. The dried tops are imported and 

 yield by distillation a strongly-scented volatile oil, called Oil of Patchouli, 

 which has been much employed in perfumery. The coarsely powdered herb 

 is also used for making sachets. The odour of Chinese or Indian Ink has 

 been erroneously stated to be due to Patchouli. 



Mentha, Mint — Several species are used in medicine, and as sveet herbs. 

 Three are otticinal, namely, M. viridis. Spearmint, M. piperita. Peppermint, 

 and M. Pulegium, Pennyroyal. They all possess stimulant and carminative 

 properties. M. rotundijolia, aquatica, arvcnsis, Sfc. have similar properties. 



Salvia ojflcinalis. Common or Garden Sage.— The leaves were formerly 

 much employed as tea. An infusion of Sage is much used in the United 

 States as a gargle in common sore throat and when the uvula is relaxed. It 

 is also stimulant, carminative, and anti-emetic. Sage is also much used by the 

 cook an a flavourmg agent, S^. 



Hosniarinns officinalis. Common Rosemary.— The flowering tops contain 

 a volatile oil, which imparts to them stimulant and carminative properties. 

 Ho«emary is however chiefly used in perfumery, and by the hairdresser. The 

 flavour of Narbonne Honey is said to be due to the bee's feeding on the flowers 

 of this plaiit. 'i'he dried leaves are sometimes employed as a substitute for 

 Chmese Tea. 



