i5 2 Mint (Labiaice). [No. 21 



No. 21.— Family LABIATjE. (Mint Fam.) 



Genus Nepeta, L. 



Fig- 73- — Gill-over-the-Ground. Ground-Ivy. [JV. Glechbma, 



Benth?[ 



Flowers, light blue, in loose clusters of about three blos- 

 soms, from the axils of the leaves. Corolla, tubular 

 below, two-lipped, the upper lip erect, two-notched 

 and somewhat hollowed ; the lower lip spreading, 

 three-cleft, with the middle division largest and entire 

 or two-lobed. Calyx, obliquely five-toothed, about 

 one third the length of the corolla, tubular. Stamens, 

 four, in pairs, attached to the corolla, and ascending 

 under its upper lip. Anthers, usually so placed as to 

 form two small crosses. Style, one. Stigma, one, 

 two-lobed. Seed-case, free, deeply four-lobed around 

 the stigma, each lobe containing one young seed. 

 May. 



Leaves, simple, opposite, rounded, one inch or less across, 

 round-toothed. Apex, rounded. Base, heart-shaped. 



Fruit, composed of four clustered and separable nutlets or 

 achenes. 



Found, common in damp and shaded ground. Introduced 

 from Europe. 



A creeping herbaceous vine from a few inches to two 

 feet in length ; with square stems, as in all the Labiates, 

 and foliage that is aromatic when crushed. 



" Boiled in mutton-broth it helpeth weake & akeing 

 backs." — Gerard. 



