EARLY SUMMER FLOWERS 185 



contracts at the tip to a more or less sharp point. The upper 

 surface, deeper in tint than the lower which bears the glandular 

 hairs, is thrown into small folds, and the margin is bordered by 

 small rounded teeth. 



It is in the flowers of the Sage, however, that the chief interest 

 of its study lies, and these should be carefully compared with the 

 flowers of the Dead-nettle described above, which is a related 

 plant. The inflorescences are borne at the ends of some of the 

 vegetative shoots (Plate). The bracts are small and incon- 

 spicuous, but are arranged like the leaves in alternating pairs. 

 In the axil of each bract stands a group of stalked, blue flowers. 

 The middle flower of the group is the first to open, then one stand- 



FlG. 86. Garden Sage. A, flower seen from the side ; B, flower cut in half. 



(After Baillon.) 



ing on either side, and then a bud between this and the central 

 flower. 



Each of the irregular flowers (Fig. 86) has a short stalk, and 

 can be divided into similar halves by a plane passing from front to 

 back. The calyx is composed of five united petals, and is distinctly 

 two-lipped. As shown by the pointed free tips, three sepals go to 

 make up the posterior lip and two the anterior lip. Its colour 

 is green, the ribs being purplish. The corolla is of a bright blue 

 colour, and is also two-lipped. It is made up of five united 

 petals, which alternate in position with the sepals. The posterior 

 lip forms a hood protecting the anthers and stigma ; it is com- 

 posed of two petals. The anterior lip is broad and is formed of 

 three petals. The middle one forms a broad two-lobed pro- 

 jection, which serves as a landing-place for insects. 



