178 



POPULAR FLORA. 



Vervain. Vei-bena. 



* Showy Verrexas: low nncl phowy-flovvered species, in gardens in summer, the greater part from 



South America, v.z. V. Jhliiidns (red) and others, now much mixed. And there is one species 

 of this sort wild in Western prairies, viz. : — 



1. Aublet's Vekbexa. Rather hairy; leaves pinnatifid or cut ; spikes flat-topped in blossom, lilic a 



corymb; corolla light purple, &c. K. AubUuia. 



* * CoMMOx Yekvaixs: weeds or weed-like plants, in fields and road-sides, with small flowers in 



long spikes, which are generally panicled. 



2. CosiMON V. Erect, slenderly branched, 1° to 3° high; leaves sessile, cleft or pinnatifid and cut- 



toothed; spikes very slender; flowers very small, purplish. 1'. njjlcinulis. 



S. White V. Leavespetioled, ovate or oval, serrate; spikes of white flowers very slender. V. urlicifblia. 



4. Blue V. Leaves petioled, lance-shaped or lance-oblong, the lower often cut or 2-lobed at the base; 



spikes of blue flowers thick and close; stem 4° to 6° high. J', hastata. 



5. Low V. Stems Jo to 1° high; leaves lauce-llnear, sessile, scarcely toothed; spikes one or few, 



thickish; flowers purple. S. and W. V. anyuslifdlia. 



63. SAGE OR MINT FAMILY. Order LABIAT.E. 

 Herbs with square stems and opposite aromatic leaves, a 2-lippe(l (or rather irregular) 

 corolla, 4 stamens in pairs (2 long and 2 shorter), or else only 2 sta- 

 mens, and a 4-parted ovary, in I'ruit making 4 akenes around the 

 base of the single style. That is, among the families with 2-lipped 

 or irregular monopetalous corollas this is at once known by the 4- 

 lobed ovary, making 4 akenes. The leaves are commonly more or 

 less dotted with small glands, which contain a volatile oil, peculiar to 

 each species. This gives the warm aromatic pioperties which all 

 plants of this family possess. By distillation, the oil is extracted from 

 several species, as from Peppermint and Spearmint, Lavender, Pen- 

 nyroyal, &c. Or the dried foliage is used for seasoning or for herb 

 drinks in the case of Summer- Savory, Marjoram, Thyme, Catnip, 

 443 Flower of Gani,.,, Saire. and Sage. Tlic followiug are the common genera or kinds of this 



414. Pistil of (he same, the 4- . ^ "1 



kibed ov.iry in the bolti.rn ..f large lamily. 

 the calyx, half of which 13 

 cut a^vay. 



* Stamens 4, turned down so as to rest upon the lower lip of the corolla. 

 Flowers in racemes, white: calyx soon reflexed, its upper lobe large and round: upper 



lip of the corolla 4-cleft, the lower entire. Leaves ovate, fragrant, ( Odmum) *Sweet-Basil. 

 Flowers in a naked and peduncled spike, pale blue: calj'x narrow, 5-toothed: the 5 lobes 



of the corolla almost equal: stamens short: leaves narrow, hoary, {Lavcindulii) *Lavendek. 

 * * Stamens 4, ascending, and projecting from the upper side of the corolla. Akenes veiny. 

 Corolla cleft down the upper side, the lower lobe much larger than the other 4. Flowers 



purplish, rarely white, in a spike, (Teucrium) Germander. 



Corolla with the border cleft into 5 almost equal lobes, blue. 



Stamens very long, curved: lobes of the corolla turned rather forward, ( Trichostema) Blue-curls. 

 Stamens slightly projecting from the equally 5-lobed corolla, {Tsdntkus) False-Pexnykoyal. 



