LAMINARIA. 



LAMPYRID^E. 



]>erfect and recent is that of Mr. Bentham (' Labiatarum Genera et 

 Species,' London, 1832-36, 8vo.) 



There ar*125 genera and 2350 species of this order. 



Leaf and flowers of Salcia pratentu. 



1, the orarv, upon the four lobes of which a part of the character of this 

 order depends. 



The British genera of this order are numerous. They are divided 

 by Babington into the following tribes : 



I. Mentlioidea. Corolla bell-shaped, nearly regular; stamens distant, 



straight, diverging upwards. 

 1. Mentfta. 2. Lycoput. 



II. Monardea. Corolla 2-lipped ; stamens 2, fertile, parallel under 



the lip of the corolla. 



3. Sulvia. 



III. StUvrdinea;. Corolla 2-lipped; stamens 4, distant; cells of 



anthers separate, divergent, connective, dilated. 



4. Ori'juniiin. 6. C'olaminthu. 



5. Tlii/miu. 



IV. Melininece. Corolla 2-lipped; stamens distant; anther cells 



connected above. 



7. Mdiua. 



V. Scuteltariac. Stamens approximating, parallel under the upper 



lip of the corolla; calyx 2-lipped, closed in fruit. 



8. Seatdlaria. 9. Prunella. 



VI. Nepctece. Stamens approximating, parallel under the upper lip 



of the corolla, '2 inferior shortest ; calyx tubular. 

 10. Nepeta. 



VII. Stachydece. Stamens approximating, parallel under the upper 



lip of the corolla, 2 . inferior longest ; calyx tubular, or bell- 

 shaped, spreading in fruit. 



U. Mdiltit. 15. Stachys. 



12. Lnmium. 16. Ballota. 



13. Isconurtw. 17. Marrubium. 



14. Oaleopiit. 



VIII. Ajugoidecc. Upper lip of corolla very short, or split and deeply 



bifid. 



18. Tatcrim. 10. Ajuya. 



The genera are described under their respective names. 

 LAMINARIA. [A.IMJE.] 



LAMINAHITES. Brongniart, classing Fossil Fuel according to 

 the analogy they offer to recent tribes, uses this term for one species 

 found in the secondary strata of Aix, near La Rochelle. 



LA'MIUM, n genus of Plants belonging to the natural order 



'IF.. It has a 2-lipped corolla, the upper lip arched, lower lip 



trifid. The lateral lobes minute, tooth-like, or obsolete, rarely 



elongated. The anthers approach in pairs, and forming a cross, burst 

 longitudinally. The calyx is 5-toothed and bell-shaped, the teeth 

 nearly equal. This genus includes the Dead, Blind, and Dumb Nettles 

 of our peasants, so called from their resemblance to the Urticce in 

 many points, except their stings. 



L. amplexicaule has roundish cordate obtuse leaves, the lower ones 

 stalked, the upper ones sessile and clasping. The teeth of the calyx 

 are longer than the tube, at length connivent ; the lateral lobes of the 

 lower lip of the corolla toothless ; the nuts small, and of an obovate- 

 oblong shape. It is found in sandy and chalky fields in Great Britain, 

 the north of Africa, and Middle Asia. 



L. intermedium has reniform, cordate, obtuse leaves, and is distin- 

 guished by the teeth of the calyx being longer than their tube, hispid, 

 and always spreading. The lateral lobes of the lower lip of the corolla 

 with a short tooth ; the nuts twice as large as those of the former 

 species, and of an oblong shape. This species is common in Scotland, 

 Sweden, and the north of Germany. 



L. purpurettm has a pale purple corolla, spotted with red, the lateral 

 lobes of the lower lip having two teeth. The nuts oblong, or about 

 twice as broad as long. It is found in Great Britain and Sweden, 

 where, according to Linnaeus, it is boiled and eaten. It was formerly 

 used in medicine, but is not now prescribed. 



L. incisum has but one tooth in the lateral lobes of the lower lip of 

 the corolla. It is a British plant, and is likewise found in France, 

 Germany, and Sweden. 



L. album is distinguished by having the calyx-teeth as long as the 

 tube, all separated by acute angles, the upper one distant from the 

 others. The corolla has three teeth, and is large and white. It was 

 once used medicinally, but is now disregarded. Like L. pwrpweum, 

 this species is eaten in Sweden as a pot-herb. It is found in Great 

 Britain and the southern parts of Europe. 



L. maculatmn has the calyx-teeth longer than their tube, the three 

 upper ones separated from the others by broad obtuse angles ; the 

 lateral lobes of the lower lip of the corolla with one tooth. It is found 

 in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe. 



L. ftrialum has deeply-cut ovate leaves, the corolla three times as 

 large as the calyx, which is glabrous. It is a native of Greece in waste 

 places, and is supposed by Fraas to be the At VKCIS opeirA of Dioscorides 

 (iii. 103). 



There are several other species of Lamium, growing chiefly in 

 the southern parts of Europe. They are not worth cultivation for 

 ornament, but will easily grow in any soil or situation, and are to be 

 propagated either by division or by seed. 



(Don, Dichlamydeoia Plants; Babiugton, Manual of British Botany; 

 Fraas, Synopsit Plan/arum Flora; Classical.) 



LAMNA, a genus of Squaloid Fishes. Fossil in the Chalk, London 

 Clay, &c., and recent. [SQUALID^;.] 



LAMPEKN. [PETBOMYZON.] 



LAMPKEY. [PETBOMYZON.] 



LAMPIUS, a genus of Fishes belonging to the family Scomoerida;. 

 It has an oval body greatly compressed ; small scales ; a single elevated 

 and elongated dorsal fin ; sides of the tail carinated ; teeth wanting ; 

 brauchiostegous rays 7. 



L. guttatus, the Opah, or King-Fish, has been taken oh the British 

 coasts. It is a very rare fish, and as beautiful as rare. The upper 

 part of the back and sides are of a rich green, reflecting both purple 

 and gold in different lights, passing into yellowish-green below ; above 

 and beneath the lateral line are various round yellowish white spots, 

 from which the fish received the name of Luna. The irides are scarlet ; 

 all the fins bright vermilion. It has been remarked, on account of 

 these showy colours, that the Opah looks like one of Neptune's lords 

 dressed for a court-day. 



This fish was formerly referred to the genus Zeus, and called/. Luna 

 and Z. imperialif. 



LAMPUOTILA. [HALCYONID.E.] 



LAMPROTORNIS. [STDBNIDJS.] 



LAMPY'RID^E (Lampyris, Linn.), a family of Coleopterous Insects 

 of the section Malacodermi. The insects of this family have five 

 joints to all the tarsi; flexible elytra; the body usually elongated 

 and somewhat depressed. The thorax projects more or less over the 

 head ; the mandibles are usually small, and terminated in a sharp 

 point ; the penultimate joint of the tarsi is always bilobed ; the claws 

 are simple, and the antenmu are approximated at the base. 



The family Lampyrida contains the following genera, and some 

 others of minor importance. 



Lycua, the distinguishing characters of which are fore part of 

 head prolonged into a snout ; antenna; serrated ; elytra most com- 

 monly dilated in the middle or towards their posterior part. One of 

 the species of this genus is found in England, the Lycus minntua, 

 Fab. ; it is about a quarter of an inch in length, and of a black 

 colour, with the exception of the elytra, which are brilliant red and 

 have raised striiO. 



Omolisui, Geoff. Antenna: simple, the second and third joints much 

 shorter than the following; head not sensibly prolonged in front; 

 joints of the tarsi elongated and nearly cylindrical ; the penultimate 

 joint heart-shaped ; elytra tolerably firm. 



0. lutularis resembles in colouring and size the insect last 

 described ; the suture however is black. It inhabits France. 



