852 THE LABIATE FAMILY. [Nepeta. 



of about 6 ; the tube of the corolla at least twice as long as the calyx. 

 Olechoma hederacea, Linn. 



Under hedges, on banks, edges of woods, and waste places, throughout 

 Europe and central and Kussian Asia, excepting the extreme north, 

 extending eastward to Japan. Very abundant in Britain. Fl. early 

 spring. 



2. N. Cataria, Linn. (fig. 794). Catmint. An erect, branching 

 perennial, 2 feet high or more, of a pale green, or somewhat hoary 

 with minute down. Leaves stalked, ovate-cordate, pointed, and coarsely 

 toothed, often whitish underneath. Flowers rather small, pale blue ol 

 nearly white, crowded in compact cymes, forming short, oblong spikes 

 at the ends of the branches, with frequently 1 or 2 clusters a little 

 lower down. Calyx softly downy, nearly as long as the tube of the 

 corolla. 



In hedges, on roadsides and waste places, throughout Europe and 

 central and Kussian Asia, except the extreme north. Tolerably frequent 

 in the south and centre of England, and in Ireland, less so in the 

 north, and not a native of Scotland. Fl. summer, rather late. 



VIII. PRUNELLA. PRUNELLA. 



Low, branching, hairy perennials, with the flowers in whorls of 6, 

 but collected into dense terminal heads, with broad, bract-like floral 

 leaves under each whorl, and no real bracts. Calyx 2-lipped, the upper 

 lip flat, the lower deeply 2-lobed, the mouth not closed with hairs. 

 Upper lip of the corolla erect, concave, short, broad, and nearly entire ; 

 the lower one spreading, 3-lobed. Stamens 4, in pairs under the upper 

 lip, each filament with a small tooth below the anthers. 



A very distinct genus (often spelled Brunella), containing, besides the 

 British one, but two species, both natives of the continent of Europe ; 

 one of which, P. grandiflora, chiefly distinguished by the large size of 

 its flowers, is often cultivated in cottage-gardens. 



1. P. vulgaris, Linn. (fig. 795). Prunella, Self-heal. Stem procum- 

 bent or creeping, and rooting at the base, with ascending flowering 

 branches, sometimes 2 or 3 inches, rarely near a foot high. Leaves 

 stalked, ovate, and nearly entire. Spikes of flowers at first very short, 

 but lengthening out to 1 or even 2 inches, with a pair of leaves close 

 under it. Corolla usually of a violet purple, about 6 lines long, but 

 varying much in size and depth of colour ; the upper lip bends over the 

 lower one, which is scarcely longer, with a broad, finely-toothed middle 

 lobe. 



In pastures, on banks, &c., especially in rather moist situations, 

 throughout Europe, north and central Asia, and North America, pene- 

 trating into the Arctic regions, and into the tropical mountains of 

 America and Asia, and reappearing in Australia. Abundant in Britain. 

 Fl. summer and autumn. In some countries it varies much more than 

 in Britain, in stature and foliage, as well as in the size and colour of 

 the flowers. 



IX. SCUTELLARIA. SKULLCAP. 



Herbs (rarely shrubby in some exotic species), usually rather weak or 

 straggling, with the flowers always solitary in the axil of each leaf, 



