156 FLORA DOTMESTICA. 



DKAGON'S-HEAD. 



DRACOCEPHALUM. 



LABIATE. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 



So named from the form of the flower, which resembles a gaping 

 mouth. 



THE Moldavian Dragon's-head, commonly called Mol- 

 davian Balm in French, la melisse de Moldavie , la Mol- 

 davique ; la melisse des Turcs [Turk's balm] is an annual 

 plant with blue flowers, which appear in July, and con- 

 tinue till the middle of August. It has a strong scent, 

 which to some persons is very agreeable. The seeds of 

 this, and of the other annual kinds, may be sown either 

 in March or September, in small pots, one seed in each, or 

 several in a larger pot, and thinned as they may require it 

 when they come up. Some kinds are more branched than 

 others. 



Balm of Gilead is a perennial plant, a native of the 

 Canary Islands : it has blue or flesh-coloured flowers, 

 continuing from July to September. It is called Balm of 

 Gilead, from its fine odour when rubbed. The old writers 

 call it Camphorosma, and Cedronella, upon the same ac- 

 count. It should be sown in September, and kept in the 

 house during the winter. When grown, it will require 

 shelter from frost only; but when first sown, should be 

 treated rather more tenderly. It may also be increased by 

 cuttings, which, planted in any of the summer months, and 

 placed in the shade, will soon take root. 



The Virginian DragonVhead named by the French, 

 la cataleptique ; I'herbe aux paralitiques, from its use in 

 palsy and similar diseases is a native of North America : 

 it has purple flowers, blowing from July to September. 

 This species requires a moist soil, and should have more 



