Order 90. Verbenacece. 249 



Konkans (<3.) It appears to be rare. D. had it between Nagotna 

 and Alibag ; I at two places in the Rutnagherry collectorate. It 

 has some resemblance to Getonia floribunda. 



* 8. polyandrum, like the last, but larger in all its parts and more 

 hairy, leaves tip to 9 inches long ; corolla 14 to 18-lobed. Not in D. 

 Konkans and Dharwar (Q-.). Extends northwards to Belgaum (#.). 



Of cultivated plants, Duranta Ellisii is a large shrub, very common 

 in gardens, with panicles of small bright-blue flowers, lighter in the 

 throat. It is called " pigeon berry " in the W. Indies. 



Petrcea volulilis, a very handsome climber, with blue corolla and 

 lilac-coloured calyx. 



Stachytarpheta Indica, herbaceous, with spikes of blue flowers, in 

 and about gardens. Of the common verbena, F. officinalis, there are 

 varieties in several colours in gardens. It is wild in some parts of 

 India, and was held in superstitious veneration both in classical and 

 mediaeval days. Aloysia citriodora, the lemon plant, or lemon-scented 

 verbena, is also well known. 



OKDER91. LABIATES. The mint family. 



Herbs, rarely shrubs, usually abounding in oil glands, and 

 therefore strong-smelling. Stems generally square, leaves 

 simple, opposite or whorled, without stipules ; flowers irregular, 

 usually small, very frequently in whorls, calyx persistent, 4 or 

 5-cleft, often 2-lipped, corolla tubular, limb 4 or 5-lobed, 

 generally distinctly 2-lipped ; stamens 4 didynamous, or 2, 

 generally exserted, ovary free, deeply 4-lobed, style rising from 

 between the lobes, stigma usually bifid, fruit of 4 small seed- 

 like nuts at the bottom of the calyx tube. 



" Here's flowers for you : 

 Hot lavender, mints, savory, marjoram ; 



these are flowers 



Of middle summer, and, I think, they are given 

 To men of middle age." A Winter's Tale. 



This is a great order, both from size and importance, and is spread 

 over the whole globe, though most abundant in the temperate regions 

 of the Old World. " Labiatse form one of the most natural groups of 

 plants ; the characters of its members are so uniform that it may be 

 called monotypic, as if all the species could be comprehended in a 

 single genus, and the discrimination of its genera is hence often very 

 difficult " (Le Maoui). The order is distinguished from others of this 

 group by the deeply 4-lobed ovary, which can always be seen at the 

 bottom of the calyx tube, and by the fruit of 4 small nuts similarly 

 situated, looking like, and described by Linnaeus as, naked seeds. 

 Lavender and Salvia for their flowers, and Coleus for foliage, are old- 

 fashioned favourites in gardens ; but perhaps the sweet herbs of the 

 kitchen garden are still better known sage, balm, thyme, besides 

 those mentioned by Shakspeare above. 



