LAMIALES. 407 



R. Rliaponticum, a native of Western Asia, is commonly grown in 

 gardens under tlie name of "Pie Plant," its petioles are used for the 

 pleasant acid they contain. 



Many species are weeds of fields and gardens ; sucU are Smartweed, 

 and Black Bindweed (Polygonum, sp.). Docks and Sorrel (Bumex, sp.). 



Order Phytolaccacese. — Mostly tropical herbs, sometimes shrubs 

 or trees, usually with sevei^al free or united carpels. About eighty- 

 species are known, most of which are more or less acrid. 



Phytolacca decandra, the Common Pokeweed, is our most notable 

 representative. It is, however, a dpubiful native. 



Order Nyctaginacese. — Mostly tropical herbs, shrubs, or trees with 

 qpposite leaves and tumid joints ; flowers gamophyllous. -About 

 200 species are known. The roots of many of the species are purgative 

 or emetic. 



Abronia, of several species. Mirabilis, sp., the Four O'clock, or 

 Marvel of Peru, and some others, are cultivated as ornaments. 



II. GAMOPBTALiE.— Plants whose flowers generally 

 have both sepals and petals, the latter connately united. 



580. — Cohort XH. Iiamiales. Plants with zygomorphio 

 flowers, superior oyaries, indehiseent fruits, with the seeds 

 solitary in the two to four cells. 



Order Labiatae. — The Mint Family. Aromatic herbs or shrubs, 

 with four-angled stems and opposite leaves. The species, of which 

 there are about 2500, are abundant in temperate and warm climates, 

 but are rare in ciml regions. We have about 200_^ native species ia 

 North America. (Figs. 416-18.) 



Considering the size of the order, it ranks low from an economic 

 standpoint. Tlie aromatic herbage has led to the use of many species 

 as domestic remedies, few of which, however, are really valuable. 

 Nevertheless, there are many species yielding minor products which 

 are of some value. 



Myssopus officinalis. Hyssop, a, small shrub of Southern Europe, is 

 commonly cultivated in gardens as a domestic medicine. 



Sedeomq pulegioides, American Pennyroyal, is an oflBcinal herb. 

 , Lavandula vera, Lavender, is a shrubby plant of the South of 

 Europe, cultivated in gardens, and used as a domestic perfume. Oil 

 of Li^vender is obtained from it^by distillation. 



MentlM piperita. Peppermint, introduced from Europe, yields Oil 

 of Peppermint by distillation. It is extensively grown in Southern 

 Michigan and New York. 



Marriibium vulgare. White Horehound, of Europe, is commonly 

 found in gardens ; its dried herbage is officinal. 



Mosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary, T/iymus vulgaris, Thyme, and Sal- 



