Ill 



CLASS 14. DIDYNAMIA. 



(Containing Plants with two long and two short Stamens.) 



The plants of the class Didynamia, with the addition of Sage 

 and a few others, form the natural order Labiatse. They have a 

 great general resemblance to each other in the shape of the 

 flowers, which in all of them are of one petal, two-lipped, 

 either gaping or personate ; many are of strong and pleasant 

 scent, as the Lavender, and of valuable medicinal properties. 

 Few of them have showy flowers, and therefore few are culti- 

 vated as ornamental plants ; the Foxglove and the Snapdragon 

 are however exceptions. A greater number find a place in the 

 kitchen garden, being useful as potherbs ; among these we have 

 of native growth the Thyme, the Basil, the Marjoram, the 

 Horehound, and the useful tribe of the Mints, of which the 

 Pennyroyal is one. It is a difficult class for the young botanist, 

 particularly in distinguishing the various genera ; longer cha- 

 racters are therefore necessary. 



Order 1. GYMNOSPERMIA. Seeds naked. 



Note. All of this order have gaping flowers, borne in heads or whirls ; 

 square stems ; and opposite leaves. 



* Vatyx five toothed, lut not lipped. 



MINT, (Mentha.) Corolla tube short, limb nearly regular 

 four-cleft, the upper division notched ; stamens distant. 



MARJORAM, (Origanum.) Corolla tube long ; limb two- 

 lipped, the upper lip nearly flat, lower of three nearly- 

 equal divisions ; stamens distant ; flowers attended with 

 numerous bracts. 



GERMANDER, (Teucrium.) Corolla without the upper lip; 

 lower lip of five divisions, four small, like teeth, the 

 lowest large, rounded ; tube partly cleft ; stamens long. 



