70 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM 



wood is obtained from Tcclona grandis of farther India 

 and the East Indies. The white mangrove trees of 

 Brazil belong to various species of the tribe Avicennise. 



A score of genera are in cultivation in North America. 

 Among these are: Amsonia, a greenhouse shrub; Calli- 

 carpa, greenhouse or hardy shrubs; Caryopteris, a 

 shrub, not hardy; Clerodendron (Turk's Turban), 

 greenhouse or hardy; Duranta (Golden Dewdrop), cul- 

 tivated in the South; Lantana, greenhouse or bedding 

 herbs or shrubs; Lippia (Lemon Verbena), greenhouse 

 or hardy shrubs or herbs; Petra;a (Purple Wreath), 

 greenhouse climber; Verbena, bedding or greenhouse 

 herbs; Vitex (Chaste Tree, Hemp Tree, Monk's Pepper 

 Tree), semi-hardy shrubs or trees. 



195. Labiate (the name refers to the 2-lipped [bila- 

 biate] character of the corolla of most species). MINT 

 FAMILY. Fig. 51. Herbs or shrubs, commonly with a 

 four-angled stem, and usually containing a fragrant 

 oil: leaves opposite or whorled: flowers bisexual, very 

 rarely unisexual, irregular, rarely regular, usually 

 bilabiate; calyx 5-toothed or cleft, regular or 2-lipped; 

 corolla 5-lobed, rarely 4-lobed, gamopetalous and 

 hypogynous, 1 lip sometimes obsolete, the lobes im- 

 bricated; stamens 4, didynamous, or only 2, epipet- 

 alous; hypogynous disk well developed, thick, entire 

 or lobed; ovary superior, of 2 carpels, deeply 4-lobed, 

 4-celled, each cell 1-ovuled; style basal or sub-basal; 

 stigmas 2: fruit of 4 1-seeded nutlets; the ectocarp 

 rarely fleshy. 



One hundred and fifty-seven genera and about 2,800 

 species are distributed over the whole earth, but are 

 especially abundant in the Mediterranean region and 

 the orient; they are also abundant in the mountains 

 of the subtropics. The larger genera are Salvia, 500 

 species; Hyptis, 300 species; Stachys, 180-200 species; 

 Scutellaria, 180 species; Nepeta, 150 species; Satureia, 

 130 species; and Teucrium, 100 species. The family is 

 related to the Verbenacese and to the Boraginacea, 

 also to the Scrophulariacese and Acanthacea. The 4- 

 angled stem, fragrant oil, 4-lobed ovary, the solitary 

 ovules, and the basal style are distinctive. This is a 

 difficult family for the student. The characters for 

 separating the genera reside mostly in the calyx, co- 

 rolla and stamens. The nutlets are less important in 

 classification than in the Bpraginacese. 



Owing to the volatile oil and bitter principles, the 

 Labiata are of more than usual economic importance: 

 Scutellaria lateriflora (skullcap), tonic, nervine; Salvia 

 officinalis (garden sage), tonic, also used as a condi- 

 ment; Marrubium vulgare (hoarhound), tonic, anthel- 

 mintic, and expectorant; Hedeoma pulegioides (Ameri- 

 can pennyroyal), carminative and stimulant; Mentha 

 spicata (spearmint) and Mentha piperita (peppermint), 

 carminative; Mentha Pulegium (European penny- 

 royal), carminative; mints are also used as condiments. 

 The following oils are from Labiatse: Oil of thyme 

 ( Thymus Serpyllum) ; rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) ; 

 Lavender (Lavandula officinalis); spike (Lavandula 

 Spica); origanum (Origanum Majorana). Catnip (Ne- 

 peta Cataria) is a family sudorific. Mother-wort (Leo- 

 nurus Cardiaca) is a family stimulant and bitters. The 

 leaves of lavender and patchouli (Pogostemon Patch- 

 ouli) are used to keep insects from woolens, furs, and 

 the like. Many other species have been used locally 

 for various purposes. 



Fifty or more genera are in cultivation in North 

 America. Most of these are garden annuals or hardy per- 

 ennials cultivated for the flavor or odor, for ornamental 

 purposes, or for medicine. Among these are: Acantho- 

 mintha (Thorny Mint); Ajuga (Bugle Weed); Cedro- 

 nella (Balm of Gilead); Coleus; Collinsonia (Horse- 

 balm, Horse-weed, Stonewort) ; Cunila (Maryland Dit- 

 tany); Hedeoma (American Pennyroyal); Hyssopus 

 (Hyssop), hardy shrub; Lamium (Dead Nettle); Lav- 

 andula (Lavender) ; Leonotis (Lion's Ear, Lion's Tail) ; 

 Lophanthus (Giant Hyssop); Marrubium (Hore- 



hound); Melissa (Balm); Mentha (Mint, Spearmint, 

 Peppermint, Japanese Mint, Bergamot Mint, Black 

 Mint, White Mint, European Pennyroyal); Micromeria 

 (Yerba Buena); Moluccella (Shell Flower, Molucca 

 Balm) ; Monarda (Horsemint, Oswego Tea, Bee-balm, 

 Fragrant Balm, Wild Bergamot); Nepeta (Catnip, 

 Ground Ivy, Gill-run-over-the-ground); Ocimum (Ba- 

 sil) ; Origanum (Marjoram) ; Phlomis (Jerusalem Sage) ; 

 Physostegia (False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant) ; Plec- 

 tranthus (Cockle-spur Flower) ; Pogostemon (Patch- 

 ouli Plant) ; Prunella or Brunella (Self-heal, Heal-all) ; 

 Pycnanthemum (Mountain Mint); Rosmarinus (Rose- 

 mary, Old Man); Salvia (Sage, Clary, Scarlet Sage); 

 Satureia (Savory); Scutellaria (Skull-cap); Stachys 

 (Woundwort, Choro-gi, Chinese or Japanese Artichoke, 

 Knot-root, Betony); Teucrium (Germander); Thymus 

 (Thyme, Mother-of-Thyme) ; Trichostema (Blue Curls, 

 Bastard Pennyroyal, Ramero); Westringia (Victorian 

 Rosemary). 



196. Nolanaceae (from the genus Nolana, derived 

 from nola, a little bell, in reference to the corolla). 

 NOLANA FAMILY. Fig. 51. Herbs or small shrubs: 

 leaves alternate, or opposite: flowers bisexual, regular; 

 calyx 5-cleft; corolla 5-lobed, gamopetalous, hypogy- 

 nous, plicate in the bud; stamens 5, slightly epipeta- 

 lous, alternating with the lobes of the corolla; hypogy- 

 nous disk well developed, often lobed; ovary superior, 

 typically of 5 carpels, radially lobed, or both radially 

 and transversely lobed, lobes 5-30, in fruit forming 5- 

 30 nutlets which are each 1-7-seeded, or sometimes 

 both radially and transversely lobed. 



There occur 3 genera and 50 species, confined to the 

 west coast of South America. Many species are mari- 

 time. The family is related to the Convolvulacese, also 

 to the Boraginaceze and Solanacea;. The plicate corolla 

 and very peculiarly lobed ovary derived from 5 carpels 

 are distinctive. 



A few species of Nolana, all prostrate plants, are cul- 

 tivated in this country for ornamental purposes. 



197. Solanaceae (from the genus Solanum, the sig- 

 nificance unknown). NIGHTSHADE FAMILY. Fig. 52. 

 Herbs, erect or climbing shrubs, or small trees: leaves 

 usually alternate: flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual, reg- 

 ular, rarely irregular; calyx 5-cleft; corolla 5-lobed, 

 gamopetalous, hypogynous, usually plicate in the bud, 

 the folds twisted to right or left, rarely the tips of the 

 folds valvate or imbricated; stamens 5, epipetalous, 

 alternating with the corolla-lobes; hypogynous disk 

 present; ovary superior, 2-celled, rarely falsely 1-, or 

 more, celled; ovules in each cell 1 to many; style 1; 

 stigmas 1-2: fruit a berry or capsule. 



About 70 genera and 1,600 species, 900 of which be- 

 long to Solanum, are distributed in the tropical and warm 

 temperate regions, the greatest number being in Cen- 

 tral and South America. The family is related to the 

 Scrophulariaceso, Convolvulacese and Nolanaceae. The 

 regular, plaited corolla, and usually numerous seeds are 

 important distinguishing characteristics. Datura has a 

 prickly fruit. The calyx of Physalis is accrescent and 

 inflated, surrounds the fruit, and is often colored. 



Many Solanacea; contain narcotic or poisonous 

 alkaloids and are used in medicine. Belladonna (alka- 

 loid atropine) is obtained from the roots of Alropa 

 Belladonna; it was formerly used by women to 

 dilate the pupils of the eye, hence the specific name. 

 The leaves and flowers of Datura Stramonium (Jimson 

 weed) constitute the stramonium of medicine (alka- 

 loid daturine). Stramonium seeds were formerly 

 used by magicians to produce fantastic visions, and by 

 thieves to stupefy their victims. Henbane (alkaloid 

 hyoscyamine) consists of the leaves and tops of Hyos- 

 cyamus niger and is narcotic. Mandragora is similar 

 in effect to belladonna. It was used by sorcerers to 

 produce hallucinations in their victims. Scopolia 

 carniolica and Solanum carolinense (horse-nettle) 

 have been used in medicine. The remedy, pichi, con- 



