niMnt Jfamil^. 



Wild Bergamot. Moruwda fistulosa. 



Found in the dry soil of roadsides and pastures during July and 

 August. 



The smooth square stalk is slightly grooved, and somewhat slender, 

 though strong in fibre ; it grows from 2 to 5 feet in height, and branches 

 only for the flowers. Color, green tinged with dull violet. 



The leaf is oval, broad at the base, and tapering to the point ; its 

 margin is sparingly notched, the texture is exceedingly fine, and the 

 surface is soft to the touch. It is aromatic in odor. The color is 

 grayish-green, the midrib being lightei'. 



The flower is 2-lipped, with a long slender tube, and the pistil and 

 2 stamens project beyond the upper lip ; they are colored like the 

 corolla, a clear fine lavender. The small, tubular calyx is minutely 5- 

 pointed ; of a green color that is tinted with dull violet. The flowers 

 grow in large terminal heads, which are set about by a row of small, 

 light green leaves (bracts). 



The flowering begins at the center of the head, and continues in 

 ever-widening whorls, leaving behind them a slightly rounded disc of 

 small tubular calices, resembling a honeycomb, — the intermingled green 

 and lavender in this disc form a pleasing note in the color-scheme of 

 the plant, whose leafage is unusually fine in texture, as well as tone. 



498 



