MINT FAMILY 



LABIATE 



THE Mint family includes a large number of 

 herbaceous plants which are characterized by 

 their square stems and their simple, opposite 

 leaves, which nearly always have aromatic and 

 distinctive odors. The petals are united into a 

 two-lipped corolla, to the inside of which are 

 attached the two or four stamens. The stigma is 

 two-lobed and the ovary is deeply cleft in two 

 parts. 



A number of common plants, which are not 

 especially attractive as wild flowers but which are 

 interesting and generally well known, belong to 

 this family. Among these are the Catnip, Gill- 

 over-the-ground, Motherwort, Oswego Tea, Pen- 

 nyroyal, Peppermint, Spearmint, Wild Thyme, 

 and Wild Bergamot. 



SELF-HEAL. From early in summer until late 

 in autumn the blue-purple flowers of the Self-heal 

 or Heal-all are found everywhere. This plaint 

 from across the sea is splendidly equipped for 

 the struggle for existence which all plants must 

 undergo. It can grow in sunlight or in shadow, 

 spreading from place to place by means of hori- 

 zontal stems that take root readily, and develop- 

 196 



