feia Dr. SmithV Obfervatwns on 



fmell of M. viriilis, at leaft in the mod common variety, a. — 5 has 

 the flavour of M. piperita, and is befides remarkable for its deflexed 

 leaves. The very near referablance in fenfibie quahties of thefe 

 two varieties to the two fpecies juit named, led mc at one time to 

 fufpedl the inflorefcence had here again deceived us, and that they 

 were only varieties of thoie fpiked Mints. A careful examination 

 of tha important part, the calyx, however, guarded me againft this 

 error, at leaft as far as M. piperita is concerned. The calyx of that 

 fpecies is much longer, lefs campanulate, and more acutely ribbed 

 than in any variety oi M. gracilis ; in fhort its form and appearance, 

 without adverting to other j^arts of the plant, fufficiently-^rove 

 them to be diftindl. In M. viridis I am obliged to confei's the calyx 

 moft precifely accords in every particular with that oi gracilis. But 

 the leaves of the latter being .attenuated at the bafe, and by no means 

 fo ftrongly veined, or rugofe, as in the viridis, even without con- 

 lidering the inflorefcence, prevent us from confounding them. I 

 fpeak i:iow of gracilis a, ; for in /3 and y the leaves are much lefs at- 

 tenuated at the bafe, and more approach to an ovate form, y is 

 the mint Cafpar and John Bauhin characterized by its fmell, which 

 they juftly compared to Ocymum or Sweet Bafd. This is iiot per- 

 ceptible in all flages of its growth, but very permanent in dried 

 fpecimens, in which it refembles the flavour of Mufcadel Grapes. 

 In this plant the leaves that accompany the flowers are fo very 

 much fmaller than the reft, and often fo like braflese, they almoft 

 reduce it to the fpiked divifion of the genus. It is indeed a moft 

 puzzhng plant. Perhaps it ought to be reckoned a ipecies, and 

 arranged next to M. viridis. This is a point I muft leave to thofe 

 who can ftudy it in a truly wild ftate. In garden fpecimens I find 

 the floral leaves vary too much m fize to enable me to come to any 

 pofitive determination. 



12. Mentha 



