LABIATiE. 35 



or exceeding it; 3 upper teeth triann^ular, ascendin;!^- recurved, tlie 

 2 lower twice as long as tlie upper, slightly curved upwards, tri- 

 angular, gradually acuminated into long subulate points, all ciliated 

 with h)ng hairs ; tiu'oat closed witii hairs, which are nearly concealed 

 within the tube. Corolla about twice as long as the calyx teeth; 

 middle lobe of the lower lip larger than the others, longer than broad, 

 Beparate from the lateral lobes. 



^'ar. a, genuina. 



» Plate ML. 



lideh.' Ic. Fl. Germ, ct Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCLXXVII. Fig. 1. 

 C. ofBciualia mentbasfolia. Reich, fil. Vol. XVIII. p. 4-i. 



Peduncles considerably shorter than the pedicel of the central flower 

 of the cyme. 



Var. )3, Briggsii. 



PuviE MLI. 



Bra-h. Ic. Fl. Gcnn. et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCLVIII. Fig. 2. 

 C. officinalis ascendeus, Reich. Jil. p. 4i. 



Peduncles in the lower verticillii.-tcrs equalling or exceeding the 

 pedicel of the central flower of the cyme. 



On hedge-banks, borders of fields, by roadsides, and on dry 

 banks, particularly in chalky and gravelly soils. Rather rare, but gene- 

 rally distributed over England and Ireland. Var. ^ I have seen only 

 from Yealm Bridge and Sea Mill Bridge, Devonshire, whence it was 

 sent me by Mr. T. K. Archer Briggs. 



England, Scotland. Peremiial. Late Summer, Autumn. 



Rootstock shortljf creeping, woody, the stems not produced ui annular 

 tufts as in C. Nepeta, but either solitary or in compact tufts, slightly 

 tlexuous, 1 to 3 feet high, Avith a few branches, the lower ones fVom 

 about the middle of the stem, the upper ones rapidly decreasing in size. 

 Leaves stalked; lamina 1 to 2 inches long, less deeply crenate-serrate 

 than in C Nepeta; cymes less distinctly forked, more dense; calyx bent 

 upon the pedicel, es})ecially in fruit; the lower teeth more slender and 

 more gradually acuminated ; corolla rather larger, white, speckled 

 with lilac on the lower lip, and often with a pale purple shade on the 

 tube; plant darker green, with longer and more bristly hairs upon the 

 cahx. Leaves and stem hair)', the liairs on the upper part of the 

 latter short and recurved, or elongate and s[)rcading. 



The specimens named '' Melissa Calamintha" and " Melissa Nepeta" 

 in the Linnean llerbariinn are both Calamintha Nepeta. 



Var. 3 is a larger plant, more bristly-hairy, and with the lower 



