GROUND lyX.—GIechoina hederacea. 



Class Did YN AMI A. Order Gymnospermia. Nat, Orel. LABiATiE, 

 Labiate Tribe. 



This plant lias a strong aromatic odour, 

 especially if the leaves are bruised, and both 

 its flower and foliage are very pretty. Bishop 

 Mant well describes the former : — 



" And there upon the sod below, 

 Ground Ivy's purple blossoms show, 

 Like helmet of Crusader knight, 

 Its anther's cross-like form of white." 



These flowers grow in threes, between the 

 stalk and leaf; they are sometimes of a pale 

 lilac, and, though more rarely, quite white. 

 They appear in April and May; but long 

 before the spring has put forth a single blos- 

 som, the leaves may be found clustering on the 

 hedge-bank, though the odour which charac- 

 terises them at a later season, is then scarcely 

 perceptible. Ornamental as this plant is, yet 

 it is very injurious to pasture lands, its long 

 trailing stems occupying much room, and 

 gradually exterminating the sweet grasses and 



