MINT. 22^ 



The essential oil of Monarda 'punctata, one of the known species 

 of thymol, has been the subject of an investigation in the 

 chemical laboratory of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy.* 

 The oil distilled from the leaves and tops of the herb is described 

 as having a yellowish or brownish-red colour, being lighter than 

 water, and crystallising below 5^ C. It is reported to contain 

 about 50 per cent, of a previously unexamined C^oH^g hydro- 

 carbon, about 25 per cent, of thymol, higher oxygenated compounds, 

 including C^o H^g 0, also formic, acetic and butyric acids. It is 

 added that the thymol occurs in the freshly distilled oil in a non- 

 crystallisable condition, but by age it becomes crystalline, and 

 separates with any perceptible change in chemical composition. 



M. Aristata, Benth. Lab., p. 318 ; native of Arkansas, Texas 

 (at Bejar), Pdo de la Trinidad, &c. 



M. Purpurea. Bot. Cab., t. 1396. 



All species of Monarda are of easy culture and propagation, 

 growing freely in any soil, and are readily increased by dividing at 

 the root. 



Balm, or Melissa. The generic name is derived from 

 fxeKiaaa, a bee and ^eXe honey, indicative of the attraction the 

 flowers have for the insects on account of the honey they produce. 

 The different species are widely diffused, having representatives in 

 Europe, Central Asia and Xorth America. Meilssa officinalis, 

 Lin. Spec. 827. Common Balm. AVoodville, Med. Bot., t. 147 ; 

 Sabbati, Hortus Eomanus, iii., t. 61; De Lobel, Stirpium Icones, 

 t. 277. Xative of Portugal, Spain, South of France, Italy, Sicily, 

 Greece, about Aleppo, Tauria, Iberia, and Caucasus. The plant is 

 herbaceous, 2 to 4 feet in height, erect, branched ; leaves half to 3 

 inches long, those of the stems and sterile branches truncate or 

 cordate at the base, upper floral and ramal ones smaller, rounded 

 or cuneated at the base, all obtuse, or the upper ones are acute, 

 more or less villous on both surfaces ; whorls axillary, loose, 

 distant ; cymes distinct, 3-6 flowered ; corolla white or pale 

 yellow, often twice as long as the calyx, but variable. The size 

 and form of the leaves are also variable. The leaves have a 

 pleasant odour, somewhat like lemon mixed with citronella. (The 

 name of the herb in French is Citrondle. 



* Am. Jouin. Pharm., March, 1888, p. 113. 



