LABIATES 369 



Anthers small, the two halves of each at first 

 separate (divaricate). Ovary deeply divided into four 

 lobes, from between which rises the slender style. 

 Fruit of four nutlets as in OCIMUM, not seeds. 



CHARACTERS OF THE LABIATES 



These two plants illustrate the characteristics of the 

 family LABIATES. The stems are usually square in 

 cross section, have always opposite leaves, monopetal- 

 ous, more or less two-lipped (generally very much 

 two-lipped) flowers, in cymose, usually dense, clusters 

 (verticillasters) near the ends of the branches. There 

 are four or two stamens, and the fruit always consists 

 of four nutlets, which contain each one seed, united 

 to the pericarp. 



Most of the family have strongly scented leaves, the 

 scent being due to a volatile oil in glands on the surface 

 (not inside as in the MYRTACE.E and RUTACE.E). 



Other common plants belonging to this family are: 



* MENTHA SATIVA, L. common Mint, which has 

 dense masses of almost regular campanulate flowers 

 with four lobes and four equal stamens, but is other- 

 wise like LEUCAS or OCIMUM. Three other species M. 

 VIRIDIS, L. the Spear-mint, M. PIPERITA, L. the Pep- 

 permint and M. AQUATICA, L. also occur in gardens. 



*THYMUS SERPHYLLUM, L. the wild Thyme of 

 England. 



* MICROMERIA BIFLORA, Benth., a small plant with 

 usually only two large pink flowers out at a time, 

 exceedingly common on grassy hills of the Nilgiri 

 and Pulney ranges, and generally known there as 

 Thyme. 



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