212 LABIATE. 



A perennial herb. Stem 2 to 3 feet liigli, somewhat branching above. 

 Leaves 3 to 8 inches long and 3 to 4 inches broad, ovate, serrate, acumi- 

 nate, tlio lower on long petioles, the upper almost or quite sessile. Flowers 

 racemose, the racemes disposed in a large panicle ; they appear in summer 

 and early autumn. 



Ilabilal. — In rich, moist woods ; common. 



Purls l^!H!d. — T\ic root and herb — not official. 



Conslitiienlff. — "When bruised this plant has a strong, somewhat dis- 

 agreeable odor, faintly suggestive of a lemon or lime. Like other labiates 

 its chief important constituent is a volatile oil. The constituents of the 

 root have not been ascertained. 



IWpanif ions;.— Fjin-ployed in infusion and tincture. 



Medical J'ropo'tics and l^sex. — Htone-root is said to be diuretic and 

 tonic, and its name implies, useful in calculous aUcctions. It cer- 



tainly possesses stimulant properties similar to those of many other labiate 

 pi. *s, but whether anything beyond this is, as yet, a matter of conjecture. 

 The leaves doubtless owe all their efficacy to thei»' volatile oil. 



MOXARDA.— Hoi{,sE-MiNT. 



Monarda punctata Linnc. — Horse-Mint. 



DcKcri2)lion.— Gi\\.ys.i\\\m\iW, elongated, somewhat curved, nearly equally 

 5-toothed, hairy in the throat. Corolla elongated, strongly 2-lipi)ecl, upper 

 lip erect, linear, the lower sjjreading, 3-lobed, ilie lateral lobes ovate, ob- 

 tuse, the middle one narrower. Stamens 2, inserted in the throat of the 

 corolla, not longer than its upper lip. 



A perennial lierb. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, branching, whitened by a fine 

 pubescence. Leaves lanceolate, tapering to a point, petiolate. Flowers 

 yellowish, the upper lip spotted with purple, in a few dense whorled 

 heads, surrounded with bracts ; they apjiear late in sunnuer. 



Habitat. — In sandy soil from New York to Illinois and southward. 



Part Used. — The herb— not official. 



Constituents. — A pungent volatile oil. 



Preparations. — Oleum monardic — oil of monarda. Formerly official. 

 It is also employed in infusion. 



3[cdiral Properties and Uses. — Horse-mint is, like other labiates, stimu- 

 lating and ai'omatic. Like them also it is employed to relieve colic pains, 

 and in hot infusion to induce diaphor-^sis, and to stimulate the menstrual 

 function. 



NEPET A. —Catmint. 



Character of the Oemis. — Calyx tubular, 15-nerved, obliquely 5-toothed, 

 <^he upper teeth usually longest. Corolla dilated in the throat, 2 lipped ; 

 the upper lip erect, slightly concave, notched or 2-lobed, the lower spread- 



