426 THE LABIATE FAMILY. 



Perennials, with rather large flowers in axillary whorls. 



flowers white 3. White L. 



Flowers red 4. Spotted L. 



Flowers yellow 5. Yellow!/. 



1. Henbit Iiamiuxa. Itamium amplexicatile, Linn. 



(Eiig. Bot. t. 770. Henlit.) 



A low, decumbent, much branched annual, a few inches, or, when 

 very luxuriant, near a foot long. Lower leaves small, orbicular, on long 

 stalks ; the floral ones closely sessUe, broadly orbicular, and deeply crenate 

 or cut. The flowers form 1, 2, or 3 compact whorls. Calyx softly hairy, 

 with short teeth. CoroUa about haK an inch long, of a purplish red, with 

 a slender tube ; the lateral teeth of the lower lip scarcely perceptible. 



In cultivated and waste places, throughout Europe and central and 

 Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Extending all over Britain. Fl. 

 the whole season. A variety vdi\\ rather longer teeth to the calyx, and 

 more distinct lateral teeth to the lower Up of the coroUa, is occasionally 

 found mixed with the common one, especially in the more northern locali- 

 ties, and has been distinguished as a species, imder the name of L. inter- 

 medium (Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2914). 



2. Red Iiamiom. Iiaiaium pnrpureiun, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 769.) 



A spreading annual, hke the henhit L., and the lower leaves are like- 

 wise small and orbicular, on long stalks ; but the upper leaves, even tlie 

 floral ones, are aU shortly stalked, and ovate, heart-shaped, or triangular, 

 often pointed, and, in the common variety, less deeply toothed. Calyx- 

 teeth fine, and spreading. Corolla of a purplish red, shorter than in the 

 henhit L., with a broader, more open tube, and a more hairy upper lip ; 

 tlie lower lip with a short, fine tooth on each side. 



In cultivated and waste places, tlu-oughout Europe and western Asia, 

 except the extreme north. In Britaiu, more common than tlie henlit L., 

 especially as a garden weed. Fl. the whole season. A variety with tlie 

 upper leaves deeply cut, which occurs occasionally in western Europe, and 

 has been found also in England and Scotland, has been described as a 

 species, under the name of L. incisum (Eng. Bot. t. 1933). 



3. Viniite Iiatnium. Iiamiuxa album, Linn, 



(Eng. Bot. t. 768. Bead-Nettle.) 



A rather coarse, hairy perennial, with a shortly creeping stock, and de- 

 cumbent or ascending, branching stems, seldom above a foot high. Leaves 

 stalked, coarsely crenate. Flowers pure white, in close axillary whorls of 6 

 to 10 or more. Calyx-teeth long, fine, and spreading. Tube of the co- 

 rolla curved upwards, and longer than the calyx, with an obhque contrac- 

 tion near the base, corresponding with a ring of hairs inside ; the upper hp 

 long and arched ; tlie lateral lobes of the lower one slightly prominent, with 

 a long, fine tooth. 



Under hedges, on banks, and waste places, throughout Europe and Rus- 

 sian Asia, except the extreme north. Extends all over Britain, although 

 becoming rare in the Scotch Highlands. Fl. the ichole season. The leaves 

 ai-e occasionally marked by a white line or spot in the centre, but less fre- 

 quently so than in the following species. 



