532 



BOTANY OF THE LIVING PLANT 



pollination bj' flies. The rotate corolla is expanded in a vertical plane, with 

 the style and two stamens projecting horizontally. The insect alighting 

 on the flower gains a foothold by grasping the stamens, drawing them together 

 so that they deposit pollen on the under surface of his body. On going to 

 another flower the stigma receives this, before an additional supply from that 

 flower can be deposited. The result is a high certainty of cross-pollination, 

 with high improbabiUty of self-pollination ; and it is cft'cctively carried out 

 without the tlirec stamens that are abortive. 



Fatiiilv 



ORDER : VERBENALES. 

 Laeiatae. Examples ; Dead-Neitle, Sage. 



(40) The Eabiatae are a very large Family including herbs and shrubs 

 spread through warm and temperate regions, and characterised by their 



Lainiuiu aWuin . I. flower ^een laterally. II. same in frontnl view. III, dissection 

 showing' <ivary and style, and the base of the corolla-tube, with insertion of stamens, 

 and ti'inge of hairs. IV. ovary as si'en from abo\-e. \'. floral diagram. 



four-anglcd stamens and decussate leaves. They have often an aromatic 

 smell : Mint, Sage, and Lavender are examples. Their floral structure is 

 very constant. The flowers are either solitary or in axillary c^-mes. The 

 White Dead Nettle (Lainium album. L.l illustrates the leading features. Its 

 flowers, whicli are in crowded " verticillasters," show tlieir cymose arrange- 

 ment by tlio fact that the flower directly in the axil of the leafy bract opens 



