252 COROLLlFLORiE 



i8. Scutellaria (Skull-cap) 



1. S. galericidata (Greater Skull-cap). — Leaves oblong, tapering, 

 heart-shaped at the base, notched; fivwers in pairs, axillary. 

 A handsome plant, 12-18 inches high, with rather large 

 bright blue flowers, the tube of which is much longer 

 than the calyx. Soon after the corolla has fallen off, 

 the upper lip of the calyx closes on the lower, and gives 

 it the appearance of a capsule with a lid ; when the 

 seed is ripe it opens again. Banks of rivers and ponds ; 

 frequent. — Fl. July to September, Perennial, 



2. S. minor (Lesser Skull-cap). — A small bushy herb, 



4-6 inches high, with egg-shaped leaves, of which the lower 



ones are often toothed at the base ; the flowers are small, 



of a dull purple colour ; the calyx is the same as in the last. 



It grows in bogs, but is not common, except in the west of Scutellaria 



neland. ,, 



o {Lesser 



Natural Order LX Shuii-cap) 



VERBENACE^,— Vervain Tribe 



Calyx tubular, not falling off ; corolla irregular, with a long tube ; 

 stamens 4 ; 2 longer than the others, rarely 2 only ; ovary 2- or 4- 

 celled ; style i ; stigma 2-cleft ; seeds 2 or 4, adhering to one 

 another. A tribe of plants closely allied to the Labiatm, com- 

 prising trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, having opposite leaves 

 and irregular flowers, which usually grow in spikes or heads. Many 

 are aromatic and fragrant, and some few are employed as medi- 

 cines, but are not highly valued. Great virtues were, in ancient 

 times, attributed to the common Vervain, insomuch that it was 

 accounted an holy plant, and was used to sweep the tables and 

 altars of the gods. It is now little thought of. Aloysia citriodura, 

 formerly called Verbena triphylla, is the Lemon-plant, or Lemon 

 Verbena of gardens, well known for the delicious fragrance of its 

 rough, narrow leaves. Many varieties of Verbena are also culti- 

 vated for the sake of their ornamental flowers, which for brilliancy 

 of colouring are scarcely surpassed. But by far the most remark- 

 able plant of this Order is the Teak- tree (tectoria grandis), which 

 inhabits the mountainous parts of Eastern Asia. The trunk of this 

 tree sometimes attains the height of two hundred feet, and its 

 leaves are twenty inches long by sixteen broad. The timber some- 

 what resembles mahogany in colour, but is lighter and stronger. 

 For ship-building it rivals Oak. 



I, Verbena (Vervain). — Calyx 5-cleft ; corolla unequally 5-cleft ; 

 stamens shorter than the tube of the corolla. (Name, the Latin name 

 of the plant.) 



