746 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDJEN PLANTS 



SALVIA 



It may be increased by cuttings of the 

 half-ripened shoots inserted in sandy soil 

 under a handlight during the summer 

 months, and kept shaded until they are 

 rooted. They may be planted out the 

 following spring. Seeds, if obtainable, 

 may also be sown as soon as ripe, in 

 greenhouses or cold frames. 



CALAMINTHA (Calamint). — 

 A genus closely related to Thymus, and 

 differing chiefly in having a tubiilar 2- 

 lipped calyx, and a larger 2-lipped corolla, 

 usually protruding from it. Stamens 4, 

 didynamous. Leaves entire or often most 

 of them toothed. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 plants belonging to this genus may be 

 used in the same way as the Thymes. 

 They flourish in ordinary garden soil, and 

 may be utilised for carpeting purposes 

 in the rookery or border. They are easily 

 increased by division in early autumn or 

 spring, or by means of seed sown when 

 ripe in warm sheltered spots or in cold 

 frames. 



C. glabella. — A compact tufted her- 

 baceous plant about 3 in. high, with linear 

 lance-shaped sessile leaves and tubular 

 scented purple flowers, borne in great 

 abundance in summer. 



Culture dc. as above. The rockery in 

 sandy loam. Increased by division and 

 seed. 



C. grandiflora. — A South European 

 species about 1 ft. high, with branched 

 and decumbent stems. Leaves stalked, 

 ovate, coarsely toothed, 2-3 in. long. 

 Flowers in June, \\ in. long, purphsh, in 

 loose racemes, much inflated at the throat. 



Culture do. as above. A useful rock 

 plant in dry sunny places. May be in- 

 creased like the Thymes. 



MELISSA (Balm). — A genus contain- 

 ing 3 or 4 species of perennial herbs with 

 toothed leaves, the upper ones gradually 

 becoming smaller and bi-act-like. Flowers 

 in loose axillary racemes or whorls: 

 Calyx tubular, bell-shaped, 13-nerved, 

 2-lipped. Corolla 2-lipped, the upper lip 

 emarginate, the lower one spreading, 

 3-cleft. Stamens 4, didynamous. Nutlets 

 ovoid, smooth. 



M. officinalis. — This is the Common 

 Balm of Central and S. Europe, and now 

 naturalised in the S. of England. It 

 grows 2-4 ft. high, and has broadly ovate 

 or heart-shaped, orenate or toothed leaves 

 which emit a fragrant odour when bruised. 



Flowers from June to October, white or 

 pale yellow. The variety with green and 

 golden variegated foliage is very handsome 

 and fragrant, and is often used for edging 

 in the front of borders and shrubberies. 



Cultwre and Propagation. — Balm 

 flourishes in ordinary garden soil, and 

 may be easily increased by dividing the 

 tufts in spring. It is often used for 

 medicinal drinks, and sometimes for 

 cooking purposes. 



HORMINUM.— A genus with only 

 one species : — 



H. pyrenaicum. — • An elegant herba- 

 ceous perennial 6-12 in. high, native of 

 the Pyrenees to the Tyrol, with dense 

 tufts of radical stalked, bluntly ovate, 

 deeply crenate leaves, the upper ones 

 being reduced to bracts. Flowers in 

 summer, bluish-purple, about 1 in. long 

 on spikes about 9 in. high. Calyx beU- 

 shaped, 2-lipped. Corolla 2-lipped, the 

 lower lip with 3 short and broad rounded 

 lobes, the middle one broader and emar- 

 ginate. Stamens 4, didynamous. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species is perfectly hardy, and flourishes 

 in ordinary well-drained garden soU in 

 the border. It is increased by dividing 

 the crowns in spring or by seeds sown in 

 the open border in warm spots when ripe 

 or in spring, afterwards pricking out or 

 transplanting the seedlings as required. 



SALVIA (Sage). — A genus containing 

 about 450 species of herbs, bushes, or 

 shrubs, vnth various habits, and entire 

 toothed, incised or pinnately cut leaves, 

 the upper ones on the stems often changed 

 into bracts. Flowers of various colours, 

 rarely yellow, mostly showy, sessile or 

 shortly stalked, and borne in spikes, 

 racemes, and panicles, rarely all axillary. 

 Calyx ovoid, tubular, or bell-shaped, 

 2-lipped, the upper lip entu-e or 3-toothed, 

 the lower one 2-cleft. CoroUa 2-lipped, 

 with an inflated or enlarged tube, naked, 

 hairy, or tuberculate within ; upper lip 

 concave or arched, erect, entire, or emar- 

 ginate ; lower lip spreading, 3-cleft, the 

 middle lobe usually broader, entire, emar- 

 ginate, or 2-cleft. Perfect stamens 2, 

 remarkable for having distant anther-cells, 

 one sterile and the other fertile. Nutlets 

 ovoid-triquetrous, or somewhat flattened, 

 smooth. 



Culture and Propagation. — Most of 

 the Sages are easily grown in ordinary 

 good garden soil, almost as easily indeed 



