274 



BOTANY FOR BEGINNERS 



CHAP. 



Natural Order : Labiatse (Labiate Family). The plants 

 of this order can be recognised by their square stem and oppo- 

 site leaves. The inflorescence is a verticillaster (p. 173). Tho 

 flower is zygomorphic. The calyx is gamosepalous, 5 lobed, 

 and inferior. The corolla is gamopetalous, 5 lobed, hypogynous, 

 and two-lipped. The stamens (2 or 4) are epipetalous ; if four, 

 didynamous. The pistil is syncarpous, carpels 2, superior, style 

 gynobasic, ovary 4 lobed. The fruits consist of 4 nutlets. 



NOTE. The Labiatae can be distinguished from the Scrophu- 

 larineae by their square stem and opposite leaves, and by the 

 4 lobed ovary and gynobasic style ; from the Boragineae by 

 the stamens being fewer in number than the lobes of corolla, 

 and by the zygomorphic flowers. 



Floral formula. K(s\ [C(5), A4], G(s). 



Description of a Typical Plant of the Labiatse 

 (Lamium album, White Deadnettle). 



Habit. A peren- 

 nial herb with 

 square stem and 

 coarse foliage. 



Mem. Herba- 

 ceous, erect, square, 

 hollow, hairy, 

 green. 



FIG. 264. Floral 

 diagram. 



FIG. 265. Deadnettle (Lamium). A, flowering branch ; 

 B, flower ; C, section of flower ; D, flower viewed from 

 the side ; S, section of stem. (One-sixth nat. size.) 



Leaves. Cauline, opposite, simple, cordate, serrate, hairy. 

 Inflorescence. Definite ; verticillaster. 



Flower. Complete, zygomorphic, of an inch in diameter 

 labiate, white, faintly scented. 



