LABIATAE 



201 



flowers in terminal oblong clustered spikes; bracts orbicular-ovate, 



about as long as the calyx. 



Majorana hortensis. Moench. $ Fl. Ccstr. ed. 2. p. 347. 



Sweet Marjoram. 



Annual, in gardens (perennial in its nathe localities. Senth.). Stem 9 to 15 

 inches high, subterete. Leaves Y A of an inch to an inch long, entire, downy and 

 canescent; pdiolts % to % an inch long. Spikes Y to half an inch in length, 

 obtusely 4-cornered, iu sessile terminal clusters of threes, or on short axillary 

 peduncle-like branches. Bracts quadrifariously and closely imbricated, the mar- 

 gins, at base, involute. Calyx resinous-dotted; upper lip (or sepal?) dilated, 

 obtuse, mostly denticulate at apex, narrowed below, with the margins intlexed ; 

 lower lip (or sepal?) very small, ovate. Corolla white. 

 Hob. Gardens. Nat. of Africa and Asia. Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. One of the fragrant culinary Herbs, commonly cultivated. 

 289. THY N MU, L. 



[The ancient Greek name; from thyo, to burn perfumes.] 

 Calyx ovoid-tubular, 10- to 13-nerved, bilabiate; upper Up trifid ; 

 lower lip bifid; throat hairy. Corolla short, sub-bilabiate; upper 

 Up straight, flattish, emarginate; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, the 

 middle lobe larger. Stamens mostly exserted, sub-equal, or didy- 

 namous; anther-cells finally diverging. Suffruticose, humble, 

 spreading perennials: leaves small, entire, veiny, punctate, the mar- 

 gins often revolute. 



1. T. VULGARIS, L. Erect, or decumbent; leaves lance-ovate, with 

 the margins slightly revolute; cymules in terminal interrupted 

 leafy spikes. 



COMMON THYMUS. Garden Thyme. Standing Thyme. 



Stems 4 to 8 or 10 inches long, numerous, roughish-pubescent, branching and 

 matted together at base. Leaves l /i^o]/ 2 an inch long, tapering at base to upetiolt 

 whirh is scarcely a line in length, and somewhat ciliate with long hairs. Calyx 

 hirsute, strongly ribbed, corolla pale purple. 

 Hob. Gardens. Nat. of Southern Europe. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. This well-known, and highly fragrant plant, is to be seen in 

 almost every well-ordered kitchen garden. 



2. T. Serpyl'lum, L. Procumbent, with ascending flowering 

 branches; leaves elliptic-ovate, obtuse, flat; cymules crowded in 

 ovoid-oblong terminal heads. 



Wild Thyme. Creeping Thyme. 



Stem 4 to 6 or 8 inches long, slender, branching and entangled at base, retrorsely 

 pubescent on the angles. Leaves % to near half an inch long, on short jietioles, 

 the fcase and petiole more or less ciliate. Calyx hairy. Corolla purple, with red 

 and white spots. 

 Hob. Dry, sandy banks. Nat. of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. Nearly allied to the preceding, in appearance and proper- 

 ties, and naturalized in many places. There is a silly old notion, 

 still entertained by some ignorant and unthinking people, that this 

 plant springs up, spontaneously, in spots where human blood has 

 been spilled by any casualty, or violence ! 



