MEL 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY. 



MEl 



111 



in weakness of the stomach, and removes the pains and ob- 

 structions of the bowels : it is likewise good in hysterical com- 

 plaints, and suppressions of the menses. A conserve made 

 of the young tops may be used for the same purposes, and 

 will be found equally efficacious. It flowers in August. 

 Native of many parts of Europe, as in Italy, Spain, France, 

 Switzerland, Austria, and England, by the sides of walls and 

 rh corn-fields. It may be increased and treated nearly in the 

 same manner as the first species. 



4. Melissa Nepeta; Field Balm, or Calamint. Peduncles 

 axillary, dichototnous, longer than the leaf; calicine segments 

 equal. Root perennial, somewhat oblique, crooked, round, 

 woody, brown; stems woody, divided just above the base 

 nito branches, which are from one to two feet in length, 

 ascending, obscurely quadrangular, reddish towards the base, 

 beset with soft horizontal hairs. Both this and the preceding 

 species seem to have been used indifferently in the old prac- 

 tice of medicine, under the name of Calamintha. They have 

 a strong aromatic smell, approaching to that of Pennyroyal, 

 and a moderately pungent taste, somewhat like Spearmint, 

 but warmer. Infusions of the leaves, given as tea in weak- 

 nesses of the stomach, flatulent colics, and uterine obstruc- 

 tions, are very useful. Propagated nearly in the same man- 

 ner as the first species. 



5. Melissa Cretica ; Cretan Balm. Racemes terminating; 

 peduncles solitary, very short. Stems slender, a little woody ; 

 flowers small. Native of the south of Europe. If the seeds 

 of this be permitted to scatter, there will be a sufficient sup- 

 ply of young plants. 



6. Melissa Fruticosa; Shrubby Balm. Branches attenu- 

 ated, rod-like; leaves tomentose underneath; stem shrubby. 

 The whole plant has a strong scent of Pennyroyal, and is of 

 short duration. It may be increased by seeds, or by cut- 

 tings, planted in any of the summer months, and shaded from 

 the sun. On a warm border they will frequently live through 

 the winter; but it is prudent to keep a plant or two in pots, 

 sheltered under a frame in winter. 



MelitHs ; a genus of the class Didynamia, order Gymno- 

 spermia. -GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: perianth one- 

 leafed, bell-shaped, round, straight, with a two-lipped mouth ; 

 upper lip higher, emarginatc, acute ; lower shorter, bifid, 

 Ucute, with the divisions gaping. Corolla: one-petalled, 

 ringcnt; tube much narrower than the calix ; opening scarcely 

 thicker than the tube ; upper lip erect, roundish, entire ; 

 lower spreading, trifid, blunt; middle segment larger, flat, 

 entire. Stamina: filamenta four, awl-shaped, under the upper 

 lip, the middle ones shorter than the two outer ; antheree con- 

 verging by- pairs in form of a cross, bifid, blunt. Pistil: ger- 

 nien blunt, four-cleft, villose ; style filiform, the length and 

 'situation of the stamina; stigma bifid, acute. Pericarp: 

 none ; calix unchanged, containing the seeds at the bottom. 

 'Seeds : four. Observe. The lower lip of the calix is some- 

 times crenated. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Calix: wider 

 than the tube of the corolla. 'Corolla: upper lip flat, lower 

 Crerrated. 'Antliera:: crosswise. The species are, 



1. Melittis Melissophyllum ; Bastard Balm. Leaves ellip- 

 tic. Root perennial, sending up in the spring three, four, or 

 more stems, a foot and half high or more, upright, with a 

 few branches at the base. Flowers large, handsome, growing 

 chiefly on one side, in half whorls, about six flowers together ; 

 corolla slightly villose, white stained with purple. Clnsius 

 mentions a variety in all respects smaller : it is a native of 

 Switzerland and Austria. Mr. Curtis remarks, that the cruci- 

 form 'appearance of the anthera^ ought not to form -a part of 

 the essential character, being common to many of tho didy- 

 namous plants : we may add, that it is a character -which- is 



VOL. ii. --75. 



only apparent for a short time. Most authors describe the 

 Melittis as having an unpleasant smell : the fresh herb when 

 bruised partakes of the scent of Balm and of Stinking Hore- 

 hound, (see Bullota;) but when dried it becomes delightfully 

 fragrant ; the flowers, when they first open, are odoriferous. 

 Much honey is secreted from a gland that encircles the base of 

 tl>e germen ; hence this is a favourite plant with bees, and it ac- 

 cords well with its name Melittis. It flowers in May or June, 

 and is a native of several parts of Europe. It occurs only in the 

 west of our island, as about Totness, Barnstaple, &c. in Devon- 

 shire; in the New Forest, Hampshire; and about Haverfordwest 

 in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, in woods and shady places. 

 It is a handsome plant, continuing in flower three weeks or a 

 month, unless the season be very hot. As it rarely produces 

 good seeds in the gardens, it is usually propagated by part- 

 ing the roots; but where the plants are intended for ornament, 

 the roots should not be disturbed oftener than every third 

 year ; nor should they then be divided into small parts, lest 

 it prevent them from flowering the first year. The best time 

 to remove and part the roots is the beginning of October, 

 that they may have time to get root before the frosts come 

 on. They should have a loamy soil, and an eastern exposure, 

 where they will thrive and flower plentifully. 



2. Melittis Japonica. Leaves alternate, ovate, obtuse, 

 unequally serrate ; calix villose. Stem upright, villose, sim- 

 ple, a span high. Native of Japan. 



Melochia; a genus of the class Monadelphia, order Pent- 

 andria. GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: .perianth often 

 double; outer one-sided, three-leaved; inner one-leafed, 

 half five-cleft ; segments half ovate, acute, permanent. Co- 

 rolla : petals five, obcordate, spreading, large. 'Stamina : 

 filamenta five, awl-shaped, united at the base into a pitcher, 

 involving the germen ; antheree simple. Pistil : germen 

 roundish ; styles five, awl-shaped, erect, the length of the 

 stamina, permanent ; stigmas simple. Pericarp : capsule 

 roundish or five-cornered, five-celled, five-valved; valves acute ; 

 partitions contrary, doubled. Seeds: solitary, or in pairs, on 

 one side roundish, on the other angular, compressed. Observe. 

 The calix in some species is double, in others single. ESSEN- 

 TIAL CHARACTER. Styles: five. 'Capsule: five^celled, one- 

 seeded. To propagate the plants of this genus, sow the seeds 

 on a hot-bed ; and when the plants come up, treat them in 

 the same manner as is directed for Sida. The shrubby sorts 

 may with care be preserved through the winter in a stove, 

 whereby good seeds may be obtained; for they seldom 

 ripen their seeds well the first year, unless the plants be 

 brought forward early in the spring, and the summer proves 

 warm. The other sorts generally ripen their setds the same 

 year they are sown. The species are, 



1. Melochia Pyramidata; Pyramidal MelocJaa. Flowers 

 umbelled ; capsules pyramidal, five-cornered ; angles mucro- 

 rrate ; leaves naked. Stem shrubby at the base, branched, a 

 foot high; corollas small, blood-red, frequently closed. 

 Browne fit-scribes it as -a very elegant little plant, about three 

 feet high. Native of Brazil and Jamaica. 



2. Melochia Tomentosa ; Downy Melochia. Flowers um- 

 belled, axillary; capsules pyramidal, five-cornered; angles 

 mucronate ; leaves tomentose. This is an upright shrub, 

 little branched, only three feet high in open rocky situations, 

 but seven feet high in woods. Native of Jamaica, Martinico, 

 St. Martin's, and other islands of the West Indies. 



3. Melochia Crenata; Notch-leaved Melocldu. Leaves 

 roundish, crenatf, tomentose, marked with lines; umbels 

 axilfnry and terminating, pednncled. This shrub has a pur- 

 plish bark, and alternate, villose-tomentose, hoary blanches. 

 Native of South- America. 



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