SYNOPSIS. jri 



SAL VI A, from salvo, to save, in allusion to the medicinal properties 

 of the sage and other aromatic plants of the same genus. N.O., Lamiacece, 

 or Lipworts. LINN^AN : 2, Diandria ; 1, Monogynia, This order has 

 several distinctive characters. The stems are four-cornered, the leaves 

 are opposite, replete with receptacles of aromatic oil ; the flowers in whorls 

 or opposite cymes, the corolla bilabiate, the upper lip overlapping the 

 lower, which is larger and three-lobed ; the fruits are small nuts enclosed 

 within the persistent calyx. As they come near to borageworts, note 

 should be taken of their square stems and irregular flowers, for borage - 

 worts have round stems and regular flowers. The labiates are natives of 

 temperate regions chiefly, and are very abundant. In the cooler parts of 

 India there are over two hundred species ; they love dry sunny places, as is 

 the case generally with aromatic plants. In the arts they are much used, as 

 in the preparation of perfumes and sauces ; a few are eatable, and many 

 have valuable medicinal properties. The famous patchouli is a labiate ; 

 lavender, mint, horehound, and rosemary are familiar labiates renowned for 

 their several uses. As regards the rosemary there can be no question of its 

 power of encouraging the growth of hair, and thereby curing baldness ; it is 

 used also in the manufacture of Hungary water, and contributes in an 

 especial degree to the pungent aroma of eau de Cologne. The famous 

 Narbonne honey is derived from the flowers of rosemary, which abounds in 

 that district of France. p. 69. 



INDIAN PINK, or DIANTHUS, from dios, divine, and 

 anthos, flower, the divine flower. N.O., Cari/ophyllacece. LiNN-asAx: 10, 

 Decandria ; 2, Digynia. See under " Lychnis," p. viii., Vol. V. p. 73. 



GLADIOLUS, from gladius, a sword, in allusion to the form of the 

 leaves. ~S.Q.,Iridacece. LINN^AN : 3, Triandria; 1, Monogynia. Although 

 the Cape species of gladiolus are best known in gardens, there are a few 

 European species, and two of them are found wild in Britain. Gladiolus 

 segetum, the cornflag, and G. commimis, which may be called English if not 

 British, very fairly represent the family, and are worthy of the special 

 attention of the rambling botanist. Hitherto, however, G. communis has 

 only been found amongst the bracken near Lyndhurst, in the New Forest. 

 See under " Iris," p. xiv., Vol. I. p. 77. 



MALCOMIA. Named after W. Malcom, mentioned by Ray. 

 N" O., Cmciferce. LINN^EAN: 15, Tetradynamia. See under "Wallflower," 

 p. vii., Vol. I. p. 81. 



LOBELIA, named after M. Lobel, botanist. N.O., LobeUacea. 

 LINNJEAN : 5, Pentandria ; 1, Monogynia. This order consists almost exclu- 

 sively of herbs and under-shrubs of suspicious qualities. The leaves are 

 alternate and simple ; the flowers irregular ; the corolla five-lobed ; the fruit 

 a capsule opening at the top. The species are, for the most part, moisture- 

 loving plants, possessing acrid juices of the most poisonous nature. p. 85. 



