PLANTS. 311 



avidity, rolling over it in seeming intoxication, as they 

 do with Valerian. It . 



Lavender (Lavandula spica), stem erect and branch- 

 ing : leaves small, tapering to the base without petioles, 

 crowding on the branches, which are slender and clothed 

 with whitish down; flowers, bluish-lilac, stand in spikes. 

 Grows wild in southern Europe, where it delights on 

 sunny hills ; cultivated as a garden plant in the north 

 and United States on account of its delightful aromatic 

 fragrance and herbaceous beauty ; taste a pleasant, spicy 

 bitter ; is used as a stimulant and tonic, and the oil, ex- 

 tracted by distillation, enters into many compositions in 

 medicine and perfumery. 2 . 



Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana), stem upright, 

 branching from the ground ; leaves obovate, obtuse, peti- 

 olate, and, like the stem, downy ; flowers small and 

 whitish-pink, cluster in short spikes on the end of the 

 branches. Native of the south of Europe Portugal 

 and in the East ; often cultivated in gardens. It has a 

 pleasant aromatic flavor and is employed in various ways 

 as a seasoning. O- 



Garden Thyme (Thymus serpyllum). Stem creep- 

 ing at base ; branches small and erect ; leaves petiolate, 

 oval, obtuse ; flowers purplish-pink, arranged in tufts on 

 terminal spikes. Stem and leaves downy. The wild 

 thyme grows on hills and uncultivated places in Europe, 

 and is highly attractive to bees. This well known herb 

 has a penetrating, aromatic odor, pleasantly acrid taste, is 

 found in every well-ordered kitchen-garden. Used for 

 culinary and medicinal purposes ; considered almost a 

 specific in rheumatism, contusions, etc. 2. 



Balm (Melissa ofiicinalis). A plant with an erect, 

 branching stem, rough above ; leaves elliptical, ovate, 



