402 



THE KINDS OF PLANTS 



M. spicata, Linn. (M. vlridis, Linn.). Spearmint. Fig. 543. Erect and 

 smooth, 1-2 ft., green: leaves lanceolate and sharply serrate: flowers whitish 

 or tinted, in long, interrupted spikes. Europe. Along roadsides, and 

 cultivated. 



M. canadensis, Linn. Wild mint. One to 2 ft., pubescent: leaves lanceo- 

 late: flowers tinted, in whorls in the axils of the leaves. Low grounds. 



6. TEUCRIUM. Germander. 



Perennial herbs (or shrubs) with small, pinkish, rather irregular flowers, 

 in terminal bracted spikes (or heads) or verticillate in the upper axils of the 

 stem-leaves: calyx 5-toothed, 10-nerved: corolla 5-lobed, with 4 upper lobes 

 oblong, somewhat equal, and turned forward, the lowest lobe large, rounded: 

 stamens 4, in 2 pairs, projecting from a deep fissure between the 2 upper 

 lobes of the corolla. 



T. canadense, Linn. Erect, pubescent, 1-3 ft.: leaves 

 ovate-lanceolate, irregularly serrate, short-petioled: bracts 

 under the flowers linear-lanceolate, about as long as calyx: 

 spike long and slender, the few odd-looking purplish or 

 pinkish flowers in crowded verticels. Damp ground. Late 

 summer. 



7. PRUNELLA. Self-heal. 



Low, usually unbranched perennials without aromatic 

 odor: calyx about 10-nerved, 2-lipped: corolla 2-lipped, the 

 upper lip arched and entire, the lower one 3-lobed: sta- 

 mens 4, in pairs, ascending under the upper lip. 



P. vulgaris, Linn. Self-heal. Three to 10 in. tall, with 

 ovate or oblong, usually slightly toothed leaves: flowers 

 small, violet (rarely white), in a dense, oblong, clover-like 

 head or spike. Common in grassy places; often a weed in 

 lawns. 



543. 8. SCUTELLARIA. Skullcap. 



Mentha spicata. . . 



Perennials, bitter, not aromatic: flowers solitary or in 



pairs, axillary or in bracted spike-like racemes; calyx bell-shaped, 2-lipped, 

 the lips closed in fruit, the upper one appendaged on the back (at maturity 

 the calyx splits to the bottom, the upper lip usually falling off); corolla- 

 tube elongated, curved and ascending, swollen above the throat, 2-lipped, 

 the upper lip arched and notched: stamens 4, ascending in pairs under 

 the upper lip, the upper pair shorter. 



S. laterifolia, Linn. Mad-dog skullcap. Smooth, 1-2 ft. high: stem 

 nearly or quite erect, much branched, slender, leafy: leaves thin, ovate- 

 lanceolate, pointed, serrate, petioled: flowers blue (rarely white), small, 

 J£~H in. long, in axillary, 1-sided racemes (some terminal). Wet, shaded 

 places. Summer. Several related species grow in bogs and along slow 

 streams, but most of them will not be likely to attract the attention of the 

 beginner, although all are odd or interesting. 



