I. -"J ORDER AN GIOSPERMIA. 



is divided Into ringeiii, or (taping, and personate, or closed. These 

 terms have been used in an indefinite manner. Linnaeus called the 

 whole tribe ringent ; these he subdivided into labiate and personate. 

 This division is illogical, since the specific term labiate, having lips, 

 has a more general signitication than the generic term ringent, lips 

 gaping. 



A few of the labiate flowers having but two stamens, are placed in 

 the class Diandria, as the sage and mountain-mint. Yet they have, 

 besides their two perfect stamens, the rudiments of two others, as if 

 nature had designed them for didynamous plants. Linn£eusren:tarks, 

 that the insects'rnost fond of frequenting these plants have but two 

 perfect wings ; while the rudiments of two other wings may be found 

 concealed under a little membrane; — How wonderful are the sym- 

 pathies of nature! 



When you examine a labiate flower, as balm or catmint, you will 

 observe that the arched upper lip of the petals covers the stamens, 

 and that the lower lip hangs down, so that you can see the inside of 

 the corolla. If you pull out the corolla, you will find the stamens at- 

 tached to it, as they usually are to monopetalous corollas. The co- 

 rolla shows an aperture at the base through which the pistil as- 

 cended. 



The labiate plants inhabit hills and plains exposed to the sun. The 

 aroma which escapes from their flowers, denotes their stimulating 

 medicinal properties. Their action upon the animal economy differs 

 according to the qu'dniiiy of essential oil s^rvdi of bitter ]r/-inciple which 

 they contain ; when the former prevails, as in mint, they are aroma- 

 tic and stimulating; when the bitter principle is in excess, as in ger- 

 mander, they act as tonics, and strengthen the digestive organs. 



The pericarp of the labiate flowers belongs to Mirbel's class oi' 

 fruits, called cenobion. 



Order Gymnospermia. 



The plants in this order have labiate corollas of the ringent kind ; 

 the seeds are foKr, lying uncovered in the calyx ; the flowers grow 

 in v:horls ; the stem is Tour-angled, and the leaves opposite. The 

 calyx is either five-parted, or the upper part consists of two divi- 

 sions, cafled lips. 



At Fig. 137 is a flower of the genus Tencrium, {germander';) the 

 corofla is ringent, the upper lip two-cleft, the lower lip three-cleft ; 

 the stamens and pistils are incurved ; the stamens are exsert through 

 the cleavage on the upper side; — b, shows the pistil with its four un- 

 covered, or gymnospermous seeds. 



The ringent flowers generally grov/ in whorls at the upper part of 

 an angular stem, the leaves standing opposite. These plants are 

 never poisonous. Among them we find many aromatic plants, the 

 peppermint, lavender, savory, marjorum, thyme, &c.; also many 

 medicinal herbs, as pennyro3ral, catmint, horehound, &c. ; thescull- 

 cap, (Scutellaria,) which has been said to be a remedy for the hy- 

 drophobia, the modest Isantlms, (blue gentian,) and a httle flower of 

 a most beautiful blue colour, called blue curls, (Trichostema.) 



Order Angiospermla. 



The second order contains those plants which have many seeds, 

 contained in a capsule. Plants of this order appear to have an af- 

 finity with some families of the class Pentandria. Many in addition 



How divided? — Are ail kbiate flowers in the class Didynarnia?— What is said ol 

 the properties of ihese plants?— What kiird of pericarps have the labiate flowers? — 

 What plants in the order Gymnosp.^nni i ? — t>e..scrihe F'i-'. 137— What is said of tho 

 ringent flowers ? — How is the order Aii^iosperiuia distinguished ? 



