number of Monopetalz, the flower of Labiate is formed on a penta- 
merous type, that is to say, that if the irregular flower in this order 
were made regular, five would be the number of parts in each floral 
verticillum. In the calyx and corolla this number is evident in most 
species, and only rarely reduced to four. In the stamina four is the 
usual number, but the frequent accidental presence of the fifth, leaves 
no doubt as to their normal number and position; but with regard to 
the ovarium, some discussion has arisen as to the degree of reduction 
which has taken place. It is well known that the fruit consists of four 
parts, which were once called naked seeds, and are now designated as 
carpels, and many have supposed each of these parts to be really a 
ee carpel, in which the reduction here would be no greater than 
n the case of the stamina; and the fact of there being always four 
divisions to the style in Cleonia, without any addition to the number 
of carpels, seemed to confirm this view. Further consideration, how- 
ever, induced many botanists to contend that the supposed carpels 
were, in fact, but semi-carpels; and that the fruit really consisted of 
two bipartite carpels, corresponding to the two branches of the style. 
For in other orders where the style is divided, the divisions are usually 
equal to, or greater than, not less than the number of carpellary leaves ; 
and the close analogy between Labiate and Verbenacez, where there are 
certainly but two, would be destroyed, were the Labiatz supposed to have 
four carpels. This position receives a strong confirmation from the 
flowers of the Coleus aromaticus, in which the deficient parts of the 
ovary are often more or less developed; and where, in the most perfect 
cases, there are five divisions to the style, to each of which there corre- 
spond two lobes of the ovary, making, in the whole, ten of these 
semi-carpels. A similar monstrosity, though to a less degree, may 
sometimes be seen in cultivated specimens of Sideritis Canariensis. 
INTRODUCTION; WHERE GROWN; CuLTuRE, This rare plant was 
received from India, in 1838, by his Grace the Duke of Northumber- 
land, to whose condescension we are indebted for the opportunity o 
figuring it. In a botanical point of view it is exceedingly interesting, 
and not unworthy of attention by the mere florist. Of the mode of 
culture adopted, we have no specific information. 
DeERivaTION oF THE NaMEs. 
Coteus from coXzog, a sheath, the staminal tube forming a sheath round the 
style. Barsatus, bearded. 
SyNoNnYMEs. 
PLECTRANTHUS BARBATUs, Andrews’s Botanist’s Demet t. 594. 
PLECTRANTHUs Comosus. Botanical Magazine, t. 23 
Ocimum asPpERUM. Roth. Nove Plantarum Big >. 263. 
PLECTRANTHUS ASPER. Sprengel: Systema, v. 2, p. 690. 
Bentham: Labiatarum 
CoLeUS BARBATU ——— et Species, p. 49, omitting 
e Synonymes r. Forskol and Vahl. 
