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MINT FAMILY. 237 
Fr. Serpolet. ore. Der Thymian. Span. Tomillo. 
Stems 4-6 inch slender, rather erect, much besecbenss ms nd. Soe 
together at base, suffruticose, clothed with a short cincreous pubese 
fourth to half an inch long, abruptly narrowed to a petiole, punctate, slight tly vomited 
beneath, fasciculate in the axils by reason of abortive branches. Cie bi hirsute, strongly 
ta Corolla pale 
— punc ; Segments of the lower lip subulate, pectinately ciliate 
purple 
Porat cultivated. Native of Southern Eurepe. Fi. June-August. Fr. August - 
Obs. A favorite condiment in culinary processes,—and gene 
tivated in eo gardens. The creeping Thyme (T. 7 any e's si 
a species nearly allied in properties and appearance—is naturalized in 
many suing 
12. MELIS’SA, LZ. Bam. 
[Greek, Melissa, the honey-bee ; the flowers being a favorite of that insect.] 
bale tubular, 13-nerved, bilabiate——the upper lip py be. sprees 3- 
oothed—the lower a bifid. Corolla bilabiate, with a recurved ascend- 
in wags ube, dilated above. Stamens 4, connivin ng under r the upper lip; anthers 
2-celled ; cells distinct, parallel, finely diverging. Perennial herbs 
loosely few-flowered, one-sid cymules in the axes of leaf like bracts. 
1. M. orricrna’ LIS, L. Stem erect, branching ; leaves ovate, coarsely 
crenate-serrate, petiolate : 
Orrictnat Menissa Balm Common Balm. 
Fr. La Meli Bore Die Melisse. Span. Melisa. 
Stem 1-2 or 3 feet high, more or less pubescent. Leaves 2-3 or 4 inc! 
half an — te an inch and a half in ee ae floral pact <eocivng the reali Dut 
usually somewhat cuneate at base. Cymurles —6-flowered on a short co x 
Calyx ary, hairy ‘Cort white or ightly tinged. wi vrith parle. 2 
Obs. Comm sce! cultivated in en Wh and ss become me sparingly et 
uralized in some places. An infusion of the herb, or “ Balm Tea,” is a 
pular domestic medicine, and it is wre 3 7 efficacious as any other 
ess warm drink in producing perspiratio: 
13. BRUNEL’LA, Tournef. Sexr- neat. 
[German, Die Braeune, the quinsy ; said to be cured by it.] 
Seen ats about 10-nerved, reticulatel. 
Saichaoieioe or little e ring of short hairs or eke i near 
the base within. aes 2-toothed at the apex, the lower tooth bear- _ 
ing the anther. ——— wee petoe _egnede' chastened —— 
bricated spikes or hs 
