BLUE AND PURPLE WILD FLOWERS 



alternating opposite pairs on slender stems. The 

 small, violet, purple, or rarely white, hooded, tubular 

 flowers are gathered in dense terminal spikes, suggesting 

 a Clover head. They are strongly and irregularly 

 two-lipped. The darker toned and deeply arched upper 

 lip is hood-like. The spreading lower lip is three- 

 lobed, with the edge of the middle and longest lobe, 

 fringed. The four unequal stamens and pistil show 

 within the arch of the upper lip. The oblong calyx 

 is deeply cleft into two unequal parts, and is guarded 

 at its base with a broad, heart-shaped bract. The 

 flowers may be found from April to October, and from 

 one end of the country to the other. In Germany 

 this plant formerly had a reputation for curing throat 

 diseases. It has also been used in healing wounds, 

 and for making a gargle for sore throats. 



AMERICAN, OR MOCK PENNYROYAL. TICK- 

 WEED. SQUAW-MINT 



Hedeoma pulegioides. Mint Family. 



There is small chance of overlooking this little mem- 

 ber of the Mint family because of its size. Whatever 

 it lacks in this respect, it more than makes up for 

 in the familiar fragrance exhaled by its foliage. 

 Its pleasing, aromatic pungency permeates the atmos- 

 phere for a considerable distance, and is always sure to 

 attract the attention of the passer-by. The odour is 

 believed to keep away mosquitoes, and for this purpose 

 the oil of Pennyroyal is popular with hunters, campers 

 and summer vacationists. It is also used as a gentle 



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