Origanum.'] cxn. LABIATE. (J. D. Hooker.) 649 



lower early withering. Cymes 4-1 in., ovoid, 4-gonous ; bracts green fcr purple, 

 ovate, obtuse or acute. Floivers dimorphic, larger 2-sexual, purple, smaller 9 , p;ilrr. 

 Calyx-teeth short. O. laxiflorum, Royle, is a prostrate state. O. normals, Dou, has 

 usually smaller less-coloured bracts, but intermediates are very common. 



21. THY1HUS, Linn. 



^ Small, slender, much-branched shrubs, very aromatic. Leaves small, 

 quite entire. Cymes few-fld., in dense or lax spikes, bracts minute ; flowers 

 small. Calyx 10-13-nerved, 2-lipped; throat villous. Corolla obscurely 

 2-lipped ; upper lip straight, flattish, notched, lower 3-fid. Stamens 4, 

 distant, straight, lower pair longer; anther-cells parallel or diverging. 

 Style-lobes subulate. Nutlets nearly smooth. Species about 50, of N. 

 temperate regions. 



T. Serpyllum, Linn. branches prostrate or ascending, leaves ovate 

 linear oblong or obovate obtuse. Benth. in DC. Prodr. xii. 200 ; Boiss. Fl. 

 Orient, iv. 554. T. linearis, Benth. in Wall. PL As. Ear. i. 31, Lai. 346, 

 and in DC. Prodr. xii. 202; Wall. Cat. 1567. 



WESTERN TEMPEEATE HIMALAYA ; from Kashmir to Kurnaon, alt. 5-13,000 ft. 

 WESTEEN TIBET, alt 10-15,000 ft. ; Strachey $ Winterbottom, &c. DISTEIB. Europe, 

 N. Africa, W. and N. Asia. 



Glabrous or hairy. Rootstock woody, stems or branches usually decumbent. 

 Leaves \- in., short-petioled. Whorls capitate ; flowers dimorphic, males largest. 

 Calyx-teeth ciliate. Corolla |- in., purple, very variable. Common Thyme. 



22. HYSSOPTTS, Linn. 



An undershrub. Leaves sessile, obtuse, entire. Whorls 6-15-fld., secund, 

 axillary and in terminal spikes. Calyx 15-nerved, 5-toothed, throat naked. 

 Corolla 2-lipped; upper lip erect, flat, notched; lower spreading, 3-lobed, 

 midlobe very broad. Stamens 4, exserted, diverging, lower longer ; anther- 

 cells linear, spreading. Style-lobes subequal, subulate. Nutlets narrow, 

 nearly smooth, triquetrous. 



XX. officinalis. Linn.-, Benth. in DC. Prodr. xii. 251; Boiss. Fl. 

 Orient, iv. 584 ; Reichb. Ic. FL Germ. 1. 1259. 



WESTERN HIMALAYA ; from Kashmir to Kumaou, alt. 8-11,000 ft., Falconer, &c. 

 DISTEIB. E. Europe, W. Asia. 



Usually glabrous ; stem below branched, woody ; branches 1-2 ft., erect or 

 diffuse. Leaves sessile, oblong-linear or lanceolate. Calyx, fruiting ~ in. long. 

 Corolla blueish-purple. 



23. IKXCROBKERXA, Benth. 



Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves usually small, entire or toothed. Whorls 

 axillary or in terminal spikes, rarely panicled ; flowers small. Calyx 

 13-nerved, 5-toothed or 2-lipped. Corolla 2-lipped ; upper lip erect, flattisn, 

 entire or notched; lower spreading, 5-lobed. Stamens 4, lower longer 

 ascending, incurved with diverging tips ; anther-cells distinct, parallel, at 

 length, diverging, connective usually thickened. Style-lobes equal or upper 

 very short, lower recurved flattened. Nutlets smooth. Species about 60, 

 all regions but Australia. 



1 K. capitellata. Benth. in DC. Prodr. xii. 218; pubescent, stems 

 tall 'slender erect, leaves entire or subserrate obtuse, whorls subglobose 



