DRACOCEPH'ALUM SPECIO'SUM. 



SHOWY DRAGON'S HEAD. 

 Class. Order. 



DIDYNAMIA. OYMNOSPEBMIA. 



Natural Order. 



LABIATE. 



No. 57. 



Dracocephalum is a term compounded of two Greek 

 words, DRACON, a dragon; and CEPHALE, the 

 head, on account of the fancied resemblance of its 

 corolla to the head of that fabulous animal. Speci- 

 osctn, from the Latin, showy. 



This is a handsome erect herbaceous plant, of 

 somewhat larger growth than the Dracocephalum 

 denticulatum, to which it bears considerable resem- 

 blance, but from its late introduction, is not so fre- 

 quently met with. 



It will grow in any common garden soil, but pre- 

 fers a rich and rather light loam. It increases 

 freely at the root, and may be divided in spring, or 

 in the autumn. 



We ought not, perhaps, to pass by the present 

 opportunity of making further mention of the ideal 

 animal whose name has assisted in distinguishing 

 this genus of plants. We say ideal, because much 

 that we have heard and read of dragons, during 

 childhood, must have been so. Such tales may serve 

 the purpose of the nurse, but are highly ridiculous, 

 and improper to be implanted in the youthful mind. 

 No opportunity should, therefore, be lost in unde- 



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