HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



whorls of 6, without bracts, but with a pair of floral leaves form- 

 ing a long, slender spike. A much-branched, low, slender plant, 

 forming dense tufts from one root. 



In old fields and dry soil. Escaped from gardens. It was 

 used for seasoning by the old Romans. Thyme and honey 

 were found on Mount Hymettus. Honey made from this 

 plant was greatly liked. 



Dittany 



Cuntla origanoides — Family, Mint. Color, white or purplish. 

 (See White Flowers, p. 123.) 



Spearmint 



Mentha spicaia. — Family, Mint. Color, pale blue. Leaves, 

 oblong, serrate, wrinkled, short-petioled or sessile. Flower-bracts 

 linear, rather large, under the separate clusters of flowers, which 

 form interrupted terminal spikes. Stem, erect, 1 to ih feet high. 

 Perennial by leafy runners. 



Common in all wet places. (See illustration, p. 345 •) 

 Peppermint 



M. piperita Color, purple. Calyx, streaked with purple, 



hairy. Leaves, petioled, dark green, oblong to lance-shaped, 

 purple-veined. Flowers, in whorls of dense continuous or inter- 

 rupted spikes, terminal, or sometimes axillary. July to Septem- 

 ber. 



In wet soil, along brooks. The peppermint of confec- 

 tionery and medicine. 



Water Mint 



M. aquatica. — A somewhat hairy species with purplish flowers 

 clustered in the axils or terminal. August to October. 



Wet places, somewhat rare. 



M. arvensis.— Color, white, pink or violet. (See White Flowers, 



P- I2 3-) 



Horse Nettle 



Solarium carolinense. — Family, Nightshade. Color, violet or 

 rarely white. Calyx, 5-parted. Corolla, wheel-shaped, 5-parted. 

 Fruit, a 2-celled berry. Stout, erect perennials, with many stiff, 

 yellowish prickles upon the roughly hairy stem. Leaves, toothed, 

 oblong or ovate, lobed or pinnately cut, 2 to 6 inches long. May 

 to September. 



Dry ground and waste places, Connecticut to Florida and 

 westward. 



344 



