178 



POPULAR FLORA. 



Vervain. Verbena. 

 * Showy Verbenas: low and phowy-flowered species, in gardsns in summer, the greater part from 

 Soulli America, viz. V. JiJcliiidres (red) and otliers, now mucii mixed. And there is one species 

 of tiiis sort wild ill Western prairies, viz. : — 



1. AuBLEi's Verbena. Eather hairy; leaves pinnatifid or cut; spikes flat-topped in blossom, like a 



corymb; corolla light purple, &c. V. Auhletia. 



If * Common Vervains: weeds or weed-like plants, in fields and road-sides, with small flowers in 

 long spikes, which are generally panicled. 



2. CoM.MON V. Erect, slenderly branched, 1° to 3° high; leaves sessile, cleft or pinnatifld and cut- 



toothed; spikes very slender; flowers very small, purplish. V. officinalis. 



3. White V. Leavespetioled, ovate or oval, serrate; spikes of white flowers very slender. V. uriicifblia. 



4. Blue V. Leaves petioled, lance-shaped or lance-oblong, the lower often cut or 2-lobed at the base- 



spikes of blue flowers thick and close; stem 4° to 6° high. V. hastaia. 



6. Low V. Stems Jo to 1° high; leaves lance-linear, sessile, scarcely toothed; spikes one or few, 



thickish; flowers purple. S. and W. V. angmtifblia. 



63. SAGE OR MINT FAMILY. Order LABIATtE. 



Herbs with square stems and opposite aromatic leaves, a 2-lipped (or rather irregular) 

 corolla, 4 stamens in pairs (2 long and 2 shorter), or else only 2 sta- 

 mens, and a 4-parted ovary, in fruit making 4 akenes around the 

 base of the single style. That is, among the families with 2-lipped 

 or irregular monopetalous corollas this is at once known by the 4- 

 lobed ovary, making 4 akenes. The leaves are commonly more or 

 less dotted with small glands, which contain a volatile oil, peculiar to 

 each species. This gives the wai-m aromatic properties which all 

 plants of this family possess. By distillation, the oil is extracted from 

 several species, as from Peppermint and Spearmint, Lavender, Pen- 

 nyroyal, &c Or the dried foliage is used for seasoning or for herb 

 drinks in the case of Summer- Savory, Marjoram, Thyme, Catnip, 

 M3, Fiowsr of Garden Sog-e. and Sage. The foUowing are the common genera or kinds of this 



444. Pistil of (he fl.-ime, thfi 4- , « ., 



lolled ovary in the bouom of large lamily. 

 Ihe calyx, half of which is 



cut away. 



* Stamens 4, turned down so as to rest upon the lower lip of the corolla. 

 Flowers in racemes, white: calyx soon reflexed, its upper lobe large and round: upper 



lip of the corolla 4-cleft, the lower entire. Leaves ovate, fragrant, (Ocimum) *Sweet-Bash,. 

 Flowers in a naked and peduncled spike, pale blue: calyx narrow, 5-toothed: the 5 lobes 



of the corolla almost equal: stamens short: leaves narrow, hoary, {Lavdriduln) *La vender. 

 * '^ Stamens 4, ascending, and projecting from the upper side of the corolla. Akenes veiny. 

 Corolla cleft down the upper side, the lower lobe much larger than the other 4. Flowers 



purplish, rarely white, in a spike, (TeiicHum) Germander 



Corolla with the border cleft into 5 almost equal lobes, blue. 



Stamens very long, curved : lobes of the corolla turned rather forward, ( TrirhnMnmi) Rlue-curls. 

 Stamens slightly projecting from the equally 5-lobed corolla, ihnntlms) False Pennyroyai* 



