LABIATE TRIBE 45 



2. \Vater Germander (7'. scmJinm). — Stem procumbent below; leaves 

 sessile, oblong,, either narroAved or broad, and heart-shaped l^elow, toothed, 

 green on both sides ; floral leaves similar ; flowers whorled, axillary, distant, 

 2 — 6 in a whorl ; calyx-teeth equal ; perennial. This is a rare species, occa- 

 sionally occurring in low wet meadows, chiefly in the Eastern counties. It ia 

 about half a foot in height, and bears rose-purple flowers, in distant whorls, 

 during July and August. It is more or less hairy according to its situation, 

 and has, like the last species, an odour of garlic. It was formerly used 

 medicinally, and supposed to be useful against infectious diseases. 



3. Wall Germander (T. rhanuedri/i^). — Leaves egg-shaped, cut, and 

 serrated, wedge-shaped, and entire at the base, green on both sides ; floral 

 leaves smaller, nearly entire, Avhorls of 2^6 flowers ; calyx-teeth lanceolate, 

 nearly equal ; peremiial. This species has a much-])ranched stem, of which 

 the lower part is woody, and it bears, in July, large and handsome purple 

 flowers, marked with darker lines, generally about three together in the axils 

 of the upper leaves. It is found near old ruins, and occasionally on field- 

 l)orders ; but it is a rare plant. It is plentiful on the city walls of Norwich, 

 and occurs also on Winchester Castle. It is probably not a truly wild plant, 

 l)ut an escape from the garden. It was formerly called Ground Oak. The 

 French term the plant Germanclre'c, which is an evident corruption of the old 

 name Gamandree, under which name it first appeared in a very rare Herbal of 

 Mayence, printed in 1485. 



4. Annual Germander (T. hufrp). — Stem ascending; leaves 3-cleft, or 

 pinnatifid, with oblong, entire or cut segments, green on both sides ; floral 

 leaves similar, whorls axillary, 4 — 6 flowered ; calyx inflated at the base, 

 teeth lanceolate, equal ; annual. This plant is very rare, and is a doubtful 

 native. Its central stem is erect, with ascending branches, and it has 

 numerous pale purple flowers. It has been found near Box Hill, Surrey. 



7. Bugle (Jjuga). 



1. Common Bugle (A. reptans). — Stem erect, with creeping scions at 

 the base ; lower leaves egg-shaped, or inversely egg-shaped, either cut or 

 quite entire, tapering into a footstalk, all smooth, or slightly downy ; 

 perennial. This pretty flower is very common in moist woods, hedges, and 

 pastures, during May and June. It has a solitary tapering flowering stem, 

 from six to nine inches in height, from the base of which the creeping scions 

 extend over the grass : they are a foot or more in length. The flowers grow 

 in dense whorls, which are crowded closely together so as to form a spike, 

 and their colour varies from deep purplish-blue to pale lilac or white, while 

 the floral leaves are of darker purple than the blossoms. The plant is scent- 

 less and tasteless, and a slight degree of astringency seems to be its only 

 virtue ; but it was highly extolled by old writers as a remedy for pulmonary 

 afl'ections, and was greatly praised as an application for wounds. It was 

 called Middle Comfrey, Consolida minor, Bugula, Brown Bugle, Sicklewort, 

 and Carpenter's Herb. The French call it Ilmjle ; the Cermaiis, GiinsrJ ; the 

 Dutch, Soirr/wcn ; and the Italians, Biignla ; and a very old French name for 

 this plant is Hcrhe dc St. Laurent. There is a variety {psmdo-alpina) without 

 scions, and with the lower floral leaves lobed. This mountainous Bugle is 



