CONTORTS. 541 



$ - and -flowers in various relative sizes (Glechoma hederaceum, Thymiu, 

 Salvia prafensis, and others). The entrance of uninvited guests to the honey 

 is often rendered difficult by whorls of hairs, etc. In numerous instances the 

 upper lip protects the pollen from rain. Cleistogamy is found e.g. in Lamium 

 amplexicaule. 



2,700 species; distributed over the entire globe, but the greater number in 

 Mediterranean countries (especially in the Eastern regions), where many are 

 shrub-like. Poisonous and acrid properties are absent. On account of their 

 volatile oils they are principally used as condiments, for perfumery and in 

 medicine (the officinal parts are therefore nearly always " folia " and " herba," 

 in Lavandula the flowers, and the volatile oils extracted from them). Such 

 are : l Mentha piperita f (Peppermint) menthol is obtained from this species 

 and from M. arvensis M. viridis f (Spearmint), M. crispa (Curly-mint), Thymus 

 vulgaris (Garden Thyme), Melissa officinalis (S. Eur.), Hyssopus officinalis 

 (Hyssop, S. Eur.), Origanum majorana (Marjoram, from the Mediterranean), 

 O. vulgare (Wild Marjoram), creticum, smyrnceum, etc., Salvia officinalis 

 (S. Eur.), Rosmarinus offlcinalis (oil of Bosemary, S. Eur.), Lavandula vera\ 

 (oil of Lavender, S. Eur.). Also: Satureia hortensis (S. Eur.), Ocimum 

 lasilicum (E. India), Pogostemon patchouli (E. India), etc. As ornamental 

 plants, e.g. Monarda, Plectranthus, and Coleus (foliage-plants, often with 

 red stems and leaves), Stachys lanata (white, woolly), Phlomis, Salvia-species, 

 Perilla, etc. 



Order 5. Selaginaceae. 130 species ; small, most frequently heath-like 

 shrubs or herbs, mainly from S. Africa. They differ from the other Nuculiferae 

 especially in the bilocular, transversely-placed anthers of the 4 stamens (2 

 stamens divided as far as the base (?)). The ovary has 2, or by suppression 

 only 1 loculus, each with 1 ovule, and the fruit is a schizocarp dividing into 

 two, or is a 1-seeded nut. Eadicle turned upwards. A few are ornamental 

 plants (Selago, Hebenstreitia). 



Order 6. Globulariaceae. 12 species ; especially in the Mediterranean. They 

 form an analogy to the Composite, and in the main resemble Jasione montana 

 in appearance, the flowers being crowded into a spherical head (hence their 

 name) and supported by bracts, but without involucre ; the ovary is unilocular 

 with 1 pendulous ovule. The l-seeded nut is enveloped by the persistent calyx. 

 The corolla is more or less labiate, the upper-lip is often absent as in the ligu- 

 late corollas of the Asterese ; stamens 4, didynamous, with transversely placed 

 anthers opening by one transverse cleft. The leaves are scattered, simple, 

 entire, and generally form a rosette. Globularia. 



Order7. Stilbacese. Heath-like shrubs. The ovary is bilocular; 1 erect 

 seed in each loculus, or the posterior cell is empty. Stilbe. 7 species. S. Africa. 



Family 32. Contortse. 



Hypogynous, regular, g > gamopetalous flowers (Figs. 581, 582), 

 which are generally 5- or 4-merous, with 5 or 4 stamens (with 

 the exception of Oleacece and Jasminacece which have only 2 sta- 

 mens, alternating with the carpels). The gynceceum is formed of 



1 Those which are officinal are indicated by t. 



