510 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



of a dry texture, pale-green above, glaucous beneath ; margin waved, with small, acute ser- 

 ratures. The flowers are numerous, in terminal and sometimes axillary dichotomous co- 

 rymbs, of a bluish-purple colour (sometimes white). Each flower is pedunculate. The 

 calyx is green, with ten longitudinal strice, and five nearly equal, sharp teeth. The corolla 

 is twice as long as the calyx, bilabiate ; lower lip largest, with three rounded lobes ; 

 upper lip flat and emarginate. The stamens are four; two of them long, slender, and 

 exserted, bearing small, didymous anthers ; the two others sterile, very short. The stig- 

 ma is bifid, exserted. The seeds are four, small, obovate, at the base of the persistent 

 calyx, the mouth of which is closed by rigid hairs. 



The Dittany is found in dry soils, in shady and hilly woods, in most parts 

 of the United States, flowering from July to the last of September. The 

 whole plant is used. It has a warm, pungent taste, and a powerful, aroma- 

 tic smell, depending, as in the other plants of its order, on the presence of a 

 volatile oil. This oil is not officinal, but is very powerful, resembling that of 

 Monarda. 



Medical Properties. — These are stimulant, carminative, and aromatic, as 

 in the other labiate plants. It appears to have been employed by the Indians, 

 and is noticed by Schoepf as stimulant and nervine, and useful in intermit- 

 tent fevers, and the expressed juice, mixed with milk, as an antidote to the 

 bites of venomous snakes. It is much employed in domestic practice as a 

 sudorific, given in warm infusion ; and, like all the stimulating teas, has ob- 

 tained some reputation as an emmenagogue. It may be used wherever a 

 warm, stimulating aromatic is required. 



Monarda. — Linn. 



Calyx tubular, 5-toothed. Corolla ringent, with a long tube ; upper lip linear, involv- 

 ing the filaments; lower lip 3-parted, reflexed. Stamens 2, long, exserted. Style 1, with 

 a lateral stigma. 



This beautiful genus is peculiar to North America, and is named in honour 

 of Monardes, a French botanist. The species are herbaceous, having axil- 

 lary, verticillate, or terminal and capitate flowers, with involucrate bracts, 

 which are sometimes highly coloured. They are all very aromatic, and 

 abound in volatile oil, though only one species is officinal, the M. punc- 

 tata^ which is very powerful, but has the least agreeable aroma. 



M. punctata. — Somewhat smooth. Flowers verticillate. Bracts lanceolate, coloured, 

 longer than the flowers. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, remotely serrate. Stem obtuse- 

 angled, tomentose. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 126; Elliott, Sketches, i. 30; Torrey, Comp. 23; Atlee, 

 Am. Med. Recor. ii. 496. 



Common Names. — Horsemint ; Rignum, &c. 



Description. — Stem about two to three feet high, obtusely 4-angled, whitish, downy 

 stems. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, remotely serrate, smooth, punctate, tapering to a 

 short petiole. Flowers in numerous whorls, having lanceolate, coloured bracts, longer 

 than the whorls. The corolla is yellow, spotted with brown ; the upper lip somewhat 

 vaulted, containing the filaments, the lower shorter, and 3-cleft. 



It is found in light and sandy soils, from New Jersey to Florida, flowering 

 from June to September. The whole plant has an aromatic smell, and a 

 warm, pungent, somewhat bitter taste, and abounds in a powerful volatile oil. 

 This is usually distilled from the fresh herb. It is of a reddish-yellow or 

 brownish colour, of a strong, aromatic odour, and a warm and exceedingly 

 pungent taste. When applied to the skin, it produces redness and pain, and 

 in some cases vesication. 



