312 ECONOMIC BOTANY OF ALABAMA 



LANTANA, L. The Laxtaxas. 



Lantana Camara, L. 



A shrub with roughish leaves and flowers of various colors 

 from pink to orange (and changing to still other colors in fading) 

 in flat long-stalked clusters, in summer. The older flowers around 

 the edges of the cluster are always of a different color from the 

 fresh ones in the middle, giving a sort of rainbow effect. It is 

 native of tropical America, cultivated for ornament as far north 

 as Montgomery, and occasionally runs wild near the coast (as it 

 does much more frequently in Florida). There may be one or 

 two other species that behave similarly. 



VITEX, Linnaeus. 

 Shrubs and trees, mostly tropical. 



Vitex Agnus-Castus, L. Lavender. (Chaste-TrEE). 



A small crooked tree with furrowed bark, palmately com- 

 pound deciduous leaves, and spikes of small bluish flowers. It is 

 commonly called lavender in Alabama, and it resembles the true 

 lavender (Lavandula) in color of flowers and odor of foliage, but 

 that belongs to a different family. It is a native of the Mediter- 

 ranean region, cultivated for ornament in some of our cities and 

 old rural settlements (e.g., ]\Ianningham, Butler Co.), and occa- 

 sionally escapes to roadsides (Lee County, Earle). 



LABIATAE (or NEPETACEAE). Mint Family. 



A large family, with about 160 genera and 3,000 species, in 

 temperate and tropical regions. Most of the species are aromatic, 

 and several are used for perfume or medicine. Many are orna- 

 mental. The great majority are herl)s, but there are a few small 

 shrubs of this family in Alabama and neighboring states. 



CLINOPODIUM, Linnaeus (Satiircja. L. ; Calaiiiiiitha, Moench.) 



Mostly herbs, but we have two species that are slender shrubs. 

 They do not seem to have any common names in general use. 



