248 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



Flowering cymes in dense, terminal heads. Calyx hairy, green, with 

 lanceolate, acute teeth, rather shorter than the tube. 



Rocks and dry hillsides on limestone ; very local. June to 

 September. 



Distribution. — Pyrenees, Landes, Spain, IsSre in Dauphiny. 



Hyssopus L. Hyssop. 



Though not the Biblical Hyssop. 



Flowers deep blue or violet, handsome, in terminal spikes. 

 Leaves oblong or linear-lanceolate, entire, smooth, sub-sessile, with 

 glandular dots, i-nerved. Aromatic plants with woody base, 

 growing in tufts. 



There are 5 or 6 closely allied species native in the Mediterranean 

 region. Southern Alps, and Western Asia. Often cultivated. 



Hyssopus officinalis L. Common Hyssop. 



Stems i-i^ feet high. Stock woody, with erect branches. Leaves 

 greyish - green, - linear-lanceolate, entire, smooth, sessile, with 

 glandular dots, cihated. Spikes terminal, unilateral. Calyx with 

 15 nerves and triangular teeth, acute. Corolla- tube equalling the 

 calyx. Corolla deep blue, upper lip erect, spreading, emarginate ; 

 lower lip 3-lobed. Stamens 4. Nutlets trigonous, ovoid. 



Stony places and hot rocks in sub-alpine regions ; local. July, 

 August. 



Distribution. — Tessin and Valais, Savoy, Dauphiny, Southern 

 Europe, Western Asia, Morocco. 



Hyssopus montanus Jord. 



Flowers smaller, dark blue. Plant entirely glabrous, bright 

 green. Leaves linear, obtuse. 



Dry hills ; rare. August, September. 



Distribution. — Hills in Hautes-Alpes, and mountains of Dauphiny, 

 Southern Russia. 



Lavandula L. Lavender. 



About 20 species inhabiting the Mediterranean region. Western 

 Asia, and India. Bitter and aromatic herbs, used medicinally, as 

 stimulants and as a perfume. 



Lavandula spica L. (L. vera DC). 



An under-shrub 1-2 feet high, greyish green with tomentum, with 

 woody stem rising to about a foot above the ground. Branches 

 simple, naked for 6 or 8 inches to the top, and bearing a terminal 

 spike of bluish flowers in false-whorls. Leaves linear or linear- 

 oblong, obtuse, rolled in at the margins. Upper lip of corolla bi- 

 fid ; lower Up trifid, with oval, obtuse lobes. Stony hillsides and 

 dry mountains in the south. June to August. 



