LAMIACEiE. 507 



chargent a leur col pour les porter vendre aux villes prochaines. lis les 

 trouvent attachees aux feuilles au commencement du mois de May. Elles 

 sont grosses comme une galle, convertes de poil par dessus et sont douces et 

 plaisantes a manger." 



Another species of Southern Europe, the S. korminum, is reputed to be 

 aphrodisiac, and beneficial in affections of the eyes. It is mentioned by both 

 Dioscorides and Pliny. The Peruvians make use of an infusion of S. inte- 

 grifolia in pleurisy [Flor. Peruv.) ; and the S. leucantha is esteemed as a 

 sudorific in the West Indies {Flor. Med. Antill. iii. 303). 



Rosmarinus. — Linn. 



Calyx ovate-campanulate, two-lipped ; the upper one entire, the lower bifid. Corolla 

 with the tube smooth, not ringed within, somewhat inflated in the throat ; limb bilabiate ; 

 lips nearly equal, the upper one erect and emarginate, the lower spreading, trifid, with 

 the lateral lobes erect, but somewhat twisted ; the middle one large, declining. Stamens 2, 

 ascending, inferior, exserted ; no rudiments of superior stamens ; filaments toothed at 

 base, anthers linear, sub-two-celled. Upper lobe of the style very short ; stigmas minute, 

 terminal. 



There is only one species in this genus, though there are several marked 

 varieties. It was well known to the ancients, by whom it was called Coronarius, 

 from being used in garlands, and Thuribulum or Small frankincense. Pliny 

 first applied the name of Rosmarinum to it. 



R. officinalis, Linn. — The only species. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 23 ; Stephenson and Churchill, i. 24 ; Flor. Med. vi. 300 ; 

 Bentham, Labial., 315; Lindley, Flor. Med. 489. 

 Common Name. — Rosemary. 

 Foreign Names. — Rosmarin, Fr. ; Rosmarino, It. ; Rosmarin, Ger. 



Description. — Perennial, evergreen, shrubby, two or three feet high, much branched, 

 downy, and thickly furnished with leaves ; these are opposite, sessile, linear, dark-green, 

 smooth, shining above, with the margins reflected, and whitish tomentose beneath. The 

 flowers are pedunculated, of a pale-bluish colour, variegated with white and purple, and 

 exhale, like the leaves, a fragrant camphoraceous odour. The calyx is campanulate and 

 villous ; the corolla is ringent, longer than the calyx, with the upper lip erect and bifid ; 

 the lower divided into three segments, the middle one of which is largest, concave and 

 emarginate. The stamens are two, longer than the corolla, curved and furnished with a 

 minute tooth, near the base; the anthers are oblong and of a blue colour. The style is 

 as long as the stamens, curved and furnished with pointed stigmas. The seeds are four, 

 naked and situated at the base of the calyx. 



It is a native of the south of Europe, especially near the seacoast, and is 

 cultivated in gardens in England and this country; it flowers in June. The 

 flowers of the plant, in a wild state, are said to be larger, and the leaves 

 broader than in the cultivated variety. Two other kinds are also occasionally 

 met with in gardens, one with white-striped leaves, called Silver rosemary ; 

 the other with yellow stripes, and denominated Golden rosemary. The an- 

 cients supposed that this plant had the power of imparting strength to the 

 memory and of comforting the brain, and these properties are frequently re- 

 ferred to by the older poets; and from the same belief it was worn at weddings, 

 and used at funerals ; though its latter employment has been supposed by 

 some to be a precaution against contagion. 



The officinal portions are the flowering tops. These have a fragrant odour, 

 and a bitter pungent taste. When distilled with water, they afford a light, 

 pale volatile oil, of great fragrancy, but not as agreeable as that of the fresh 

 plant. One pound of the herb furnishes about a drachm of the oil. On being 

 kept for some time it deposits crystals of camphor. 



