44 LABIATE 



darker, almost chocolate coloured. They expand in July and August. It 

 will be noted, as in the case of thyme, that there are two forms of flower : 

 the larger and more purple ones being complete, whilst the smaller and paler 

 ones bear pistils onl}^ The plant is sometimes called "Wild Organy. The 

 French term it Marjoraine ; the Germans, Majoram ; the Dutch, MarioJein ; 

 the Italians, Maggionina ; the Spanish, Alejorana. The Oregon territoiy of 

 the United States is said to have derived its name from the abundance of 

 Marjoram found there. 



6. CtErmandeii {Ti'ucriiim). 



1. Wood Germander, or Wood Sage (7'. scorodonui). — Leaves heart- 

 shaped, oblong, stalked, wiinkled, crenate, downy : floral leaves small ; 

 flowers in lateral and terminal one-sided racemes ; upper lip of the calyx 

 undivided, egg-shaped, lower with four teeth ; perennial. When walking in 

 woods, during July and August, Ave often find large masses of this "Wood 

 Sage ; for it is a social plant, and we rarely meet with a solitary specimen. 

 It grows also on banks, by roadsides, on dry heaths among Ijushes, on 

 cliff's by the sea, and in copses. The erect stem of the plant is one or 

 two feet in height, and its wrinkled and strongly-veined leaves are some- 

 Avhat like those of the Sage, but of a more yelloAvish -green. The floAvers 

 groAv in a one-sided cluster. They are of a yelloAvish-green colour, some- 

 times having a faint tinge of purple, and the stamens are pinkisli-purple. 

 "We often pass by this plant Avith little notice, but our fathers regarded it 

 with great interest ; for they considered its bitter juices very medicinal, and 

 it is not unlikely that they used the Am1)rosia, as they called it, as Ave knoAv 

 they used some other labiate plants, in brewing ale. Mr. Curtis, referring to 

 Jersey, says, " When cider, the common beverage of the island, has failed, I 

 have known the people each to malt his Imrlc}^ at home, and instead of hops use, 

 to very good purpose, the Ambrosie of their hedges." The beer is said sooner 

 to become clear by the use of this plant ; but Dr. Withering remarks that it 

 gives the liquor too . dark a colour. Of all our native bitters, this has 

 certainly most resemblance to the flavour of the hop, and he Avho should 

 taste either leaf or flower Avould immediately be reminded of that plant. 



The floAvers have an interest unknoAvn to our forefathers : they act in a 

 manner that would be regarded as intelligent in the case of animals. In 

 order to secure cross-fertilization, the stamens successively hold themselves 

 forAvard Avhere their pollen must be brushed off by bees that seek the 

 honey ; and during this period the pistil looks over the back Avail of the 

 floAver. But Avhen the last anther has discharged, a change takes place — the 

 fading stamens retire to the back, Avhilst the pistil Avith its ripe stigmas 

 comes forward and occupies their former position, and receives the pollen 

 brought from other plants. This plant is often called Garlic Sage, because, 

 Avhen bruised, it has a slight odour of gailic ; and it is said that if cows feed 

 upon it, it communicates the flavoiu' of that j^lant to their milk. It is, Iioav- 

 ever, rarely touched by these animals, though readily eaten by sheep and 

 goats. Our fathers had a variety of names for this plant. It Avas called 

 Ambrosia suhjia, Jrlir rhainpcsfir, and Jl'i/lrJc savf/r .- and Cotgrave describes it 

 as "the herbe called okc of Cappadocia."' 



