LABIATE TRIBE 57 



and in August the flowers form close thick whorls around the stems. The 

 blossoms are small and white, their calyx-teeth sharp and hooked. The 

 Horehound, though not a very frequent plant, grows on waste grounds and 

 waysides in many parts of England, but is more rare ill Scotland and Ireland. 

 It has for many centuries been iised in disease, especially that of the lungs, 

 and though not now employed b}' physicians, is thought by some good 

 botanists to merit more attention from the faculty than it at present receiA'es. 

 An infusion of the leaves is a common remedy for coughs and colds, and 

 candied Horehound and balsam of Horehound are still sold by druggists. 

 The former is much in use for children, and the latter compound is said to 

 be made of an infusion of Horehound and liquorice roots, with double the 

 quantity of brandy. Horehound tea, sweetened with hone}', is a safe 

 remedy for coughs; and Dr. Thomson says, that it has been of decided 

 service to consumptive persons. The plant loses its aromatic flavour if kept 

 long. 



Linnteus observes, that the Avord Marrubium is derived from an ancient 

 Italian town called Maria-urbs, situated on the borders of the Fucine Lake. 

 The French term the plant Marnihc commim ; the Germans, IFeisae andorn ; 

 the Dutch, Gemecne malrove ; the Italians, Marrohio bianco. 



17. Calami NT, Basil Thyme, Wild Basil {CahDuinfha). 

 * Who lis of six simple separate flower-stalks. 



1. Common Basil (C. dcinos). — Stem ascending, branched; leaves 

 oblong, on short stalks, acute, serrated, or sometimes almost entire, more or 

 less fringed at the base ; annual. This is a very pretty little plant, often 

 found on dry chalky hills or gravelly heaths, flowering in August ; rare in 

 Scotland and Ireland. It is about six or eight inches high, with whorls of 

 small bright purple flowers, more or less marked with white on the lower lip. 

 The tubular calyx is distinctly two-lipped, and the lower lip bulged at the 

 base. The plant has a slight fragrance, resembling that of the thyme. It 

 is often called Basil Thyme. The French call our pretty wild herb Basilique 

 sauvage ; the Germans, Kleine bergmUnze ; the Dutch, Void mynte ; and the 

 Spaniards, Albakaca menor. 



* * Flowers in wlmis of 'i-forked cymes. 



2. Lesser Calamint (C oi^peta). — Leaves egg-shaped, serrated, pale 

 beneath, shortly stalked ; calyx somewhat bell-shaped, obscurely 2-lipped ; 

 teeth nearly all of the same shape, and shortly fringed, the upper ones 

 slightly shorter, the hairs in the throat protruded ; floAvers in forked many- 

 flowered cymes ; perennial. This is rather a rare species of Calamint, bearing 

 its pale, pinkish-purple floAvers on long stalks in July and August, and 

 groAving on dry banks in a chalky soil. It has a strong odour, like that of 

 penny-royal, and much resembles the next sjDecies, of Avhich some regard it 

 as a sub-species, though it is smaller, and its leaves more strongly serrated. 

 A good distinction, however, is found in the Avhite hairs in the throat of its 

 calyx. Both this and the next species Avere recommended by our forefathers 

 to be burned or streAved in chambers, to drive aAvay venomous sei'pents ; and 

 the "Avholesome Calamint " is referred to by several of our old poets. 



in. — 6 



