MINT FAMILY. 237 



Fr. Serpolet. Germ. Der Thymian. Span. Tomillo. 



Stems 4-6 inches high, numerous, slender, rather erect, much branched and matted 

 together at hase, suffruticose, clothed with a short cinereous pubescence. Leaves ono 

 fourth to half an inch long, abruptly narrowed to a petiole, punctate, slightly pubescent 

 beneath, fasciculate in the axils by reason of abortive branches. Calyx hirsute, strongly 

 ribbed, punctate ; segments of the lower lip subulate, pectinately ciliate. Corolla pale 

 purple. 



Gardens: cultivated. Native of Southern Europe. Fl. June - August. Fr. August- 

 September. 



Obs. A favorite condiment in culinary processes, and generally cul- 

 tivated in kitchen gardens. The creeping Thyme (T. Serpyl'lum, L.) 

 a species nearly allied in properties and appearance is naturalized in 

 many places. 



12. MELIS'SA, L. BALM. 



[Greek, Melissa, the honey-bee ; the flowers being a favorite of that insect.] 



Calyx tubular, 13-nerved, bilabiate, the, upper lip mostly spreading, 3- 

 toothed the lower one bifid. Corolla bilabiate, with a recurved ascend- 

 ing tube, dilated above. Stamens 4, conniving under the upper lip ; anthers 

 2-celled ; cells distinct, parallel, finely diverging. Perennial herbs with 

 loosely few-flowered, one-sided cymules in the axes of leaf-like bracts. 

 1. M. OFFICINA'LIS, L. Stem erect, branching ; leaves ovate, coarsely 

 crenate-serrate, petiolate. 



OFFICINAL MELISSA. Balm. Common Balm. 



Fr. La Melisse. Germ. Die Melisse. Span. Melisa. 



Stem 1 -2 or 3 feet high, more or less pubescent. Leaves 2-3 or 4 inches long ; petioles 

 half an inch to an inch and a half in length the floral leaves resembling the cauline, but 

 usually somewhat cuneate at base. Cymules 3-6-flowered on a short common peduncle. 

 Calyx dry, hairy. Corolla white or ochroleucous', sometimes slightly tinged with purple. 



Cultivated. Native of Southern Europe and Asia. Fl. July - August. Fr. September. 



Obs. Commonly cultivated in gardens, and has become sparingly nat- 

 uralized in some places. An infusion of the herb, or " Balm Tea," is a 

 popular domestic medicine, and it is probably as efficacious as any other 

 harmless warm drink in producing perspiration. 



13. BRUNEL'LA, Tournef. SELF-HEAL. 



[German, Die Braeune, the quinsy ; said to be cured by it.] 



Calyx tubular-campanulate, about 10-nerved, reticulately veined, bilab- 

 iate, the upper lip flat, dilated, truncate, with 3 short-teeth the lower 

 lip bifid, segments lanceolate. Corolla with the upper lip erect, vaulted, 

 entire the lower lip depending, 3-lobed, middle lobe rounded, concave, 

 crenulate ; tube a little contracted at throat, inflated below it on the 

 under side, with an anmd-us, or little ring o short hairs or scales, near 

 the base within. Filaments 2-toothed at the apex, the lower tooth bear- 

 ing the anther. Perennials with few-flowered cymules clustered in im- 

 bricated spikes or heads. 



