390 LABIAT,« 



filaments. (Name said to be from a German word for the quinsy, 

 for which complaint it was considered a specific.) 



I. P. vulgaris (Selfheal). — The Duly British species, easily dis- 

 tinguished by its whorls of blue-purple, or rarely white, flowers, 

 which are collected into a cylindrical ./ieaii, having two kidney- 

 shaped, acuminate, purple-edged bracts beneath each whorl, and a 

 pair of ovate leaves at the base of tlie head. — Pastures and waste 

 ground ; very common. — Fl. July — September. Perennial. 



SCUTELLARIA GALERIC[.iL,4TA 

 {ijrcater Ski<ll-cap). 



PRU^'^ILA VULGARIS {Self-heal). 



II. Mt.Lf ij IS (Bastard Balm), represented by only one species, 

 M. Melissophiilum, a very handsome plant, i — 2 feet high, with 

 large, oblong-ovate, serrate, slightly hairy leaves, and cons[iicuous 

 white flowers, spotted or variously variegated with bright rose- 

 colour. 'I'he eah'x is membranous ami inflated. — Woods in the 

 south and we^t ; rare, — The foliage has^ an ohensive smell while 

 fresh, but in drying acquires the flavou( of new hay or '\^'oodrufif. 

 (Name from the Circck melitla, a bee,; another form of melissa 



