210 LABIATE. 



volatile oil they may relieve colic pains, as do tlie labiatse generally, but 

 that either of them is directly narcotic, sedative, or specific, is extremely 

 improbable. 



CUNIL A. —Dittany. 



Cunila Mariana Linne. — Dittany. 



Description. — Calyx equally 5-toothed, the throat densely hair}^ Co- 

 rolla twice as long as the calyx, 2-lipped ; the upper lip erect, flat, emargi- 

 nate ; the lower 3-cleft, spreading. Stamens 2, erect, exserted, distant. 



A perennial herb. Stems tufted, 1 to 2 feet high, much branched, pur- 

 plish. Leaves ovate, seiTate, subsessile. Flowers purplish, in corymbed 

 cymes or clusters, appearing in midsummer. 



Habitat. — In dry, open woods, fi'om New York to Illinois and southward. 



Parts Used. — The herb — not official. 



Constituents. — A very fragrant volatile oil, and ordinai'y constituents of 

 the labiativ. 



Prejyarations. — Commonly used in infusion. 



Medical. Properties and Uses. — Dittany acts, in every essential particular,, 

 like the mints, and is used for the same purposes. 



PYCNANTHEMUM.— Mountain Mint. 



Character of the Genus. — Calyx tubular 10- to 15-nerved, equally 5- 

 toothed or with the 3 upper teeth more or less united. Corolla 2-lipped ; 

 the u^Dper lip nearly entire ; the lower trifid, the middle lobe longest, all 

 of them ovate, obtuse. Stamens 4, distant, the lower pair longer. 



Erect, rigid, perennial herbs, corymbosely branched above. Flowers 

 numerous, in dense whorls, usually forming terminal heads or close cymes, 



Pycnanthemum incanum Michaux. — Mountain Mint. 



Descrip)tion. — Calyx 2-lipiDed, the teeth, together with the bracts, awl- 

 shaped, and bearded with spreading hairs. 



Stem erect, 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves oblong-ovate, acute, remotely 

 toothed, downy above and hoary-tomentose beneath, the floral ones whit- 

 ened both sides. Flowers joale red, dotted with purple, in dense, flattened, 

 comiDound cymes, appearing in July and August 



Habitat. — Kocky woods and barrens from New England to Michigan 

 and southward. 



Pycnanthemum linifolium Pursh. — Virginia Thyme. 



Description. — Calyx equally 5-toothed, the teeth pointed. Corolla very 

 short. 



Stem erect, 1 to 2 feet high. Leaves narrow, sessile, entire, rigid^ 

 crowded and clustered in the axils. Flowers whitish, collected in dense, 

 globular, often fascicled heads, crowded in terminal cymes, appearing in 

 Auefust. 



