MINT FAMILY. 229 



A highly interesting and valuable Order, containing upwards of 190 genera, and par- 

 ticularly remarkable for the aromatic fragrance, and stomachic properties, of many of 

 the species. The most important, however, being generally cultivated, are here in- 

 serted. 



* Stamens 4, the lower pair longer, declined so as to rest on the lower lip of the corolla. 

 Flowers in racemes, white ; upper lobe of calyx broad, orbicular- 

 ovate. Leaves ovate. 1. OCIJIUM. 

 Flowers in terminal peduncled spikes, pale blue ; calyx 5-toothed ; 



leaves narrow, hoary. 2. LAVANDULA. 



** Stamens 4 or 2, not turned down. 



Corolla almost Equally 4-lobed. Stamens 4, nearly equal. 3. MENTHA. 



Corolla manifestly 2-lipped. Stamens 2, or only 2 with anthers. 



Upper lip nearly flat or spreading, 2-lobed at the end. Throat of 



calyx bearded. Sterile filaments 2. 4. HEDEOMA. 



Upper lip arched, entire or slightly notched, holding the stamens. 

 Calyx equally 5-toothed. Flowers in close and leafy-bracted 



heads. 5. MONARDA. 



Calyx 2-lipped. Anthers with one cell at the end of a long 



connective astride the end of the filament. 6. SALVIA. 



Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 4, all with anthers. 



Upper and inner pair of stamens longer than the lower or outer 



pair ; all ascending under the upper lip. 7. NEPETA. 



Upper and inner pair of stamens shorter than the lower pair. 

 Upper lip of the corolla flat and open, or barely concave. 

 Stamens distant or diverging, not approaching the upper 

 lip. 



Calyx tubular, equally 5-toothed, 15-nerved. Sta- 

 mens long. 8. HYSSOPUS. 

 Calyx 10-13-nerved, ovate, bell-shaped or short- 

 tubular. 

 Calyx naked in the throat. Flowers clustered in 



the axils or spiked. 9. SATUREJA. 



Calyx hairy in the throat. 



Flowers spiked, and with large colored bracts. 10. ORIGANUM. 

 Flowers loosely clustered ; bracts minute. 11. THYMUS. 

 Stamens with their anthers approaching in pairs under 

 the upper lip. 

 Calyx tubular, bell-shaped and 2-lipped. Corolla 



curved upwards. Flowers few in loose clusters. 12. MELISSA. 

 Upper lip of the corolla arched or hood-like. 



Calyx 2-lippcd, closed over the fruit and very veiny ; the 



lips toothed. 13. BRUXELLA. 



Calyx not 2-lipped, 10-toothed. Clusters axillary, head- 

 like. 14. MARRUBIUM. 

 Calyx not 2-lipped and only 5-toothed, bell-shaped or top- 

 shaped, much shorter than the corolla. 



Corolla enlarged in the throat. Calyx-teeth not spiny. 15. LAMIUM. 

 Corolla not enlarged in the throat. Calyx top-shaped 



with spiny teeth. 16. LEON T URUS. 



*** Stamons 4, ascending, and projecting from the upper side of the 



corolla. 



Corolla cleft down the upper Bide, the lower lobe much larger than the 

 other 4. Flowers purplish, rarely white, in a spike ; akenes veiny. 17. TEUCRIUM. 



1. O'CIMUM, L. SWEET-BASIL. 



[Supposed from the Greek, Ozo, to smell-; in reference to its fragrance.] 



Calyx 5-cleft, the upper segment dilated, orbicular-ovate. Corolla with 

 the upper lip 4-cleft, the lower lip scarcely longer, declined, entire, flat- 

 tish. Stamens 4, declinate, the lower pair longer, the upper filaments 

 often toothed at base. Nutlets ovoid, often minutely punctate. Flow- 

 ers in terminal interrupted racemes. 



