GROUND-IVY. 367 



subulate bracteee. The calyx is sliort, tubular, striated, 

 hairy, with five nearly equal acuminate teeth. The corolla is 

 purplish blue, bilabiate, with the tube much longer than the 

 calyx; the upper lip bifid, erect; the lower lip three-lobed, 

 the middle lobe large, emarginate, variegated near the palate, 

 the side lobes narrower and shorter. The stamens are didy- 

 namous, covered by the upper lip, with whitish anthers, ap- 

 proaching so as to form a cross. The germen is ovate, four- 

 cleft, surmounted by a filiform curved style, terminated by a 

 bifid acute stigma. The fruit consists of four akenia or small 

 nuts enclosed within the persistent calyx. Plate 22, fig. 4, (a) 

 the fruit ; (b) the calyx and pistil ; (c) corolla seen in front : 

 (d) the calyx opened to show tlie four-parted germen. 



This plant is very common under hedges, by old walls and 

 waste places, and is a native of Europe from Italy to Sweden. 

 It flowers in April and May. 



The name Glechoma is derived from yXriXw/, given by the 

 Greeks to a species of mint. This species was formerly called 

 Hedera terrestris, as now Ground-Ivy, from a similarity in the 

 form of the leaves to those of common Ivy, (Hedera Helix,) and 

 probably with some allusion to the odour of the two plants. It 

 has received the vernacular names of Alehoof, Tunhoof, Gill- 

 go-by-the-ground, and Cat's-foot. 



Qualities and general Uses. — Ground-Ivy has been 

 used to clarify and preserve malt liquors, for which purpose it 

 was much employed formerly *. Cows, swine, and goats refuse 

 it, but sheep are fond of it, and horses eat it occasionally. 

 It has been recommended as food for silk-worms. 



This plant has a strong and aromatic odour when bruised, 

 and is slightly acrid, warm, and bitter to the taste. It contains 

 a small quantity of volatile oil-|", which rises in distillation, 

 with water. " Water extracts all its virtues by infusion, and 

 on inspissating the filtered liquor only the unpleasant smell of 

 the herb exhales, its more valuable part remaining concentrated 

 in the extract, which to the taste is at first sweetish, then bitter, 



* Hence the names Alehoof and Tunhoof, and the house at which such 

 medicated beverage was sold was called (/ill-house. 



"t" This substance is contained in small glandular dots which beset the 

 under surface of the leaves. 



