362 Labiate —Salvra. 
Perilla Nankinénsis is an annual from China with ample 
deep purple foliage. The almost regular rose-coloured flowers 
are small and insignificant. 
The genus Méntha, distinguished by the axillary or spiked 
verticillasters of small nearly regular flowers with four almost 
equal spreading stamens, offers little that is ornamental, 
though the fragrance of some of the species might entitle 
them toa place in the flower-garden. M. pipertta, Pepper- 
mint, is a sub-erect plant with glabrous oblong-lanceolate ser- 
rate petiolate leaves, and spicate inflorescence. M. Pulégium, 
Pennyroyal, is prostrate, creeping, with small ovate-oblong 
serrate leaves and clusters of flowers in the axils of the lower 
leaves. M. rotundifolia is an erect plant with roundish 
crenate wrinkled sessile woolly leaves and dense terminal spikes 
of white or pink flowers, of which there is a good variety with 
variegated foliage. 
8. SALVIA, 
A very large genus of undershrubs and herbs of diverse 
habit. Calyx tubular-bilabiate, upper lip entire or tridentate, 
lower bifid; throat naked. Corolla bilabiate ; throat naked, 
hairy or tuberculate; upper lip erect, entire or bifid; lower 
lip trilobate, lateral lobes spreading. Stamens 2; anther-cells 
distant, one fertile and the other sterile. Nutlets usually 
smooth and shining. The number of species is estimated at 
400. They are found in most temperate and tropical countries, 
and are particularly numerous in the warmer parts of America. 
We have two indigenous species, one, S. Verbenaca, being 
tolerably common. ‘This has small violet-blue flowers remark- 
able for the short upper lip of the corolla. S. prudénsis has 
conspicuous bright blue flowers, but it is exceedingly rare in 
Britain, and probably an introduced plant, as it has long been 
cultivated in gardens. The generic name is from salvare, to 
save, from the reputed medicinal properties of some species. 
1. S. patens (fig. 198).—This splendid perennial plant is 
not perfectly hardy, but very desirable on account of the 
intense rich blue of its velvety flowers. Unfortunately it is of 
rather strageling habit. It isa native of Mexico. 
2.8. chiondntha.—An erect perennial about 2 feet bigh 
with oblong-oval shaggy leaves and very handsome spikes of 
large pure white flowers, appearing towards the end of Spring. 
Native of Asia Minor. 
