69 



GENUS XVII.— -L A M I U M. Linn. 



Calyx fnnncl-sliiipccl, scarcely enlarging in fruit; limb asccnrling or 

 at kiigtli spreading, of 5 teeth, which arc scarcely spinous-pointed. 

 Corolla bilabiate; tube mther long ; upper lip erect, vaulted, entire or 

 slightly notched, usually about as long as the lower one ; lower lip 

 spreading, 3-lobed, the lateral lobes often reduced to small teeth, the 

 middle lobe generally notched. Stamens 4 ; filaments subparallel under 

 the upper lip of the corolla; anthers approximate in pairs, the cells 

 joined at the apex, and diverging nearly in a straight line, opening by 

 a longitudinal slit common to both. Nucules truncate at the summit. 



Decumbent herbs, with succulent stems and ovate or roundish 

 serrate-crenate or cut leaves. Bracts similar to the leaves. Verti- 

 cillasters many- flowe red ; flowers usually large, rose colour, piidv or 

 white, rarely yellow. 



The derivalion of the name of tliis genus of plants is variously given. One author 

 gives the word I.'unii, a ditch, as the origin, because the species arc usually found in 

 neglected places. Another writer states that the most direct etpnology is from 

 Xai/ior, the throat, alluding to the shape of the flower, fiom which word, says Dr. 

 Withering, " the word Lamia itself is derived, as the name of a certain voracious 

 beast or fish, or of a sorceress supposed to dovcor children." 



Sub-Gesus I. — EU-LAMIUM. (Lamiura, Linti.) 



Under lip of the corolla with a large obcordate central lobe, and 

 2 small lateral lobes resembling teeth. 



SPECIES I.— LA MITT M AMPLE XI CAU LE. Linn. 



ri.ATE MLXXXI. 



EcicU. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVm. Tab. MCCIV. Fig. 2. 

 Billot, fl. Gall, ct Germ. Exsicc. No. 21>2G. 



Annual. Leaves stalked, deltoid-orbicular, subcordate or truncate 

 at the base, obtuse, with a few large rounded entire or notched 

 crenatures on each side. Vei-ticillasters generally distant below. 

 Bracts sessile, or the lower ones subsessile, reniforni-orbiculai*, cor- 

 date, ample.xicaul, irregularly inciso-crenate ; each pair (or at least the 

 uppermost ones) with the marguis overlapping, so as to be pseudo- 

 connate. Caly.x densely pubescent; teeth rather longer than the tube, 

 green, triangular, acuminated into subulate points, densely ciliated, 

 connivcnt after flowering. Corolla tube without an internal ring of 

 hairs, slender, straight, more than twice as long as the calyx-teeth. 



