474 LABI AM. 



and hairy, the remaining three are smooth. This plant, 

 together with Burdock and Fox-glove, is often intro- 

 duced by painters into the foreground of landscapes. 

 Fl. July, August. Biennial. 



2. V. nigrum (Dark Mullein). Leaves oblong, heart- 

 shaped, stalked, downy on both sides, especially below ; 

 flowers in dense tufts on a long crowded spike. Hedges 

 and road-sides, but of local occurrence. A handsome 

 plant, not so stout as the preceding, and of a darker 

 hue. The flowers, which are very numerous, are bright 

 yellow, and the stamens are covered with purple hairs. 

 Fl. July September. Biennial. 



3. V. Blattdria (Moth Mullein). Leaves oblong, em- 

 bracing the stem, smooth ; flowers in loose tufts on a long 

 interrupted spike. Banks, rare, except in the West of 

 England, where it is not unfrequent. A tall and some- 

 what slender plant, with shining, crenate leaves, the lowest 

 of which are often lobed at the base, and with large, 

 very handsome, yellow flowers. The stamens are covered 

 with purple hairs. Fl. July, August. Biennial. 



* V. virgdtum (Primrose-leaved Mullein), which is 

 allied to the preceding, has the lower leaves downy ; 

 rare : V. Lychnitis has small cream-coloured flowers, 

 and is chiefly found on a chalky soil : and V. floccosum 

 is remarkable for the mealy down which clothes both 

 sides of its leaves ; it is found principally in Norfolk 

 and Suffolk. 



ORD. LXIL LABIATE. LABIATE TRIBE. 



Calyx tubular, regular, or 2-lipped ; corolla irregular, 

 mostly 2-lipped (labiate), the lower lip largest, and 

 3-lobed ; stamens 4, 2 longer than the others, or some- 

 times wanting ; ovary deeply 4-lobed ; style 1 ; stigma 

 2-cleft ; fruit of 4 seeds, each of which is enclosed within 

 a distinct shell or rind. A large and strongly-marked 



