LABIATE 



327 



M. fistuldsa, Linm Two to 5 ft., in clumps: leaves ovate-lanceolate: 

 flowers in a clover-like flattish head : calyx slightly curved : corolla about 1 

 in. long, purple. Common in dry places. 



2. SALVIA. SAGE. 



Annuals or perennials, mostly with large and showy flowers: calyx and 

 corolla 2-lipped : upper lip of corolla large and usually arched, entire or 

 nearly so, the lower lip spreading and 3-lobed : stamens 2, short, the anther 

 locules separated by a transverse bar. 



S. officinalis, Linn. Common sage. Erect low perennial, with gray 

 pubescent foliage: leaves oblong-lanceolate, crenulate, very veiny: flowers 

 blue, in spiked whorls. Europe; used for seasoning. 



S. splendens, Sell. (S. coccinea of gardens). Scarlet 

 sage. Tender perennial from Brazil, but much cultivated 

 for its bright scarlet floral leaves, calyx, and corolla: leaves 

 ovate-pointed. 



3. MNTHA. MINT. 



Low perennials: calyx with 5 similar teeth: corolla 

 nearly or quite regular, 4-cleft : stamens 4, equal : flowers 

 in heads or interrupted spikes, purplish or white. 



M. piperita, Linn. Peppermint. Straggling, 1-3 ft. 

 tall, the plant dark colored (stems purplish) : leaves ovate- 

 oblong, or narrower, acute, sharply serrate: flowers light 

 purple, in thick spikes 1-3 in. long. Europe. Cultivated 

 and escaped. 



M. spicata, Linn. (M. viridis, Linn.). Spearmint. Fig. 

 481. Erect and smooth. 1-2 ft., green: leaves lanceolate 

 and sharply serrate: flowers whitish or tinted, in long, in- 

 terrupted spikes. Europe. Along roadsides, and cultivated. 



M. Canadensis, Linn. Wild mint. One to 2 ft., pubes- 

 cent : leaves lanceolate : flowers tinted, in whorls in the 

 axils of the leaves. Low grounds. 



4. BRUNlSLLA. SELF-HEAL. 



Low, usually unbranched perennials without aromatic odor: calyx about 

 10-nerved, 2-lipped: corolla 2-lipped, the upper lip arched and entire, the 

 lower one 3-lobed: stamens 4, in pairs, ascending under the upper lip. 



B. vulgaris, Linn. Self-heal. Three to 10 in. tall, with ovate or oblong 

 usually slightly toothed leaves: flowers small, violet (rarely white), in a 

 dense, oblong, clover-like head or spike. Common in grassy places. 



5. NfiPETA. CATMINT. 



Perennials, mostly sweet-scented: calyx nearly equally 5 toothed: co- 

 rolla 2-lipped, the upper lip erect and somewhat concave, the lower 3-lobed: 

 stamens 4, in pairs under the upper lip, the outer pair the shorter. 



N. Cataria, Linn. Common catmint or catnip. Pig. 197. Erect, 2-3 ft., 

 pubescent: leaves cordate-ovate, crenate, grayish : corolla tinted : flowers in 

 interrupted spikes. Introduced from Europe. 



484. 

 Mentha spicata. 



