362 Labiates Salvia. 



Perilla NanJdnensis is an annual from China with ample 

 deep purple foliage. The almost regular rose-coloured flowers 

 are small and insignificant. 



The genus Mentha, distinguished by the axillary or spiked 

 verticillasters of small nearly regular flowers with four almost 

 equal spreading stamens, offers little that is ornamental, 

 though the fragrance of some of the species might entitle 

 them to a place in the flower-garden. M. piperlta, Pepper- 

 mint, is a sub-erect plant with glabrous oblong-lanceolate ser- 

 rate petiolate leaves, and spicate inflorescence. M. Pulegium, 

 Pennyroyal, is prostrate, creeping, with small ovate-oblong 

 serrate leaves and clusters of flowers in the axils of the lower 

 leaves. M. rotundifolia is an erect plant with roundish 

 crenate wrinkled sessile woolly leaves and dense terminal spikes 

 of white or pink flowers, of which there is a good variety with 

 variegated foliage. 



3. SALVIA. 



A very large genus of underahrubs and herbs of diverse 

 habit. Calyx tubular-bilabiate, upper lip entire or tridentate, 

 lower bifid ; throat naked. Corolla bilabiate ; throat naked, 

 hairy or tuberculate ; upper lip erect, entire or bifid ; lower 

 lip trilobate, lateral lobes spreading. Stamens 2 ; anther-cells 

 distant, one fertile and the other sterile. Nutlets usually 

 smooth and shining. The number of species is estimated at 

 400. They are found in most temperate and tropical countries, 

 and are particularly numerous in the warmer parts of America. 

 We have two indigenous species, one, S. Verbenaca, being 

 tolerably common. This has small violet-blue flowers remark- 

 able for the short upper lip of the corolla. S. pratensis has 

 conspicuous bright blue flowers, but it is exceedingly rare in 

 Britain, and probably an introduced plant, as it has long been 

 cultivated in gardens. The generic name is from salvare, to 

 save, from the reputed medicinal properties of some species. 



1. S. patens (fig. 198). This splendid perennial plant is 

 not perfectly hardy, but very desirable on account of the 

 intense rich blue of its velvety flowers. Unfortunately it is of 

 rather straggling habit. It is a native of Mexico. 



2. S. chiondntha. An erect perennial about 2 feet high 

 with oblong-oval shaggy leaves and very handsome spikes of 

 large pure white flowers, appearing towards the end of Spring. 

 Native of Asia Minor. 



