LABIATE. 231 



culture in mixed borders, or amongst shrubs where the rather 

 lengthy stems of the taller species will be somewhat concealed. 

 They succeed well in any good garden-soil, and are propagated 

 by division. 



P. imbricata (yimhricate-floivered P.) — This species grows 

 about 3 feet high, in rich sandy loam, often taller : the stems are 

 erect, clothed with opposite, broadly lance-shaped, sharply and 

 rather coarsely-toothed leaves. The spikes of flower are long, 

 appearing in the axils of the upper part of the stems. The 

 flowers individually are smaller than in some of the other species, 

 but are very closely imbricated in four rows, giving a quadran- 

 gular appearance to the spikes, and are pale purple. Native of 

 Texas. Blooming in July, and throughout the remainder of 

 summer and autumn. 



P. speciosa, syn. Dracocephalum speciosum {Shoivy P.) — 

 Scarcely so tall as the last species. The leaves are broady lance- 

 shaped, closely and sharply toothed towards the point. The 

 flowers are borne in handsome tenninal and axillary open spikes, 

 are large individually, and bright pink, appearing in July, Au- 

 gust, and September. Native of Siberia. 



P. virginiana ( Vh-ginian P.) — A very handsome plant, per- 

 haps the best of the genus. It grows 2 or 3 feet high. The 

 leaves are lanceolate, nan-ower than ii^the last two species, and 

 are rather distantly and finely toothed. The flowers are pro- 

 duced in terminal and axillary spikes; are large, numerous, and 

 purplish red. There is a handsome white-flowered variety, but 

 rare. Native of North America; blooming in July and the re- 

 mainder of summer and autumn. 



Prunella grandiflora {Large-floivered Self-heal). — This is a 

 lovely plant, forming masses of broadly oblong leaves slightly 

 toothed. The stems are ascending or erect, about 6 inches or 

 a foot high, the upper half of the length being occupied by the 

 dense spikes of blue or purplish-blue flowers, which appear in 

 July and August. Native of southern and central Europe, in- 

 habiting dry hilly pastures. It flourishes in deep rich sandy 

 loam, well drained, is a beautiful ornament of border or rock- 

 work, and is propagated by division. 



Salvia. — This is a very extensive genus, comprising many 

 beautiful plants, some of the finest, however, being unfortunately 

 too tender to endure in the open air our winters. In warm 

 districts, in light sandy soil, 6*. patens is hardy, but in most dis- 

 tricts it is not so, and must be lifted and stored under protec- 

 tion, and propagated by division or cuttings in heat in spring ; 

 or, what is a better mode, propagate by seed sown in February in 

 heat, pricking off" and potting on as the advancing gro^\1;h of the 



