The Dragon's Head. 335 



was introduced into England in 1786. It requires, says Mrs. 

 Loudon, a slight degree of protection during the winter ; but 

 if the seeds be sown on a hot-bed in February, and the plants 

 afterwards removed to single pots, they may be set in the open 

 air all summer, and if kept in a frame or green-house during 

 winter, they may be planted in the open ground in May, 

 when they will flower in July or August The Rafhia is a 

 very showy biennial. 



DRACOCEPHALUM— THE DRAGON'S HEAD. 



Natural Order, Labiate ; Linusean System, Didyiiamia, Gymnospermia. 

 Generic Character :— Calyx tubular, straight, with an equally five-toothed 

 mouth; tube of the corolla slender at base, generally exserted; throat 

 wide ; limb two-lipped ; upper lip concave, erect; lower spreading, three- 

 cleft ; btyle bifid at top ; achenia dry, smooth, naked. 



D. Altaiense.— Flowers in whorls ; bracts oblong; segments of calyx equal; 

 radical leaves petiolate, cordate-oblong, obtusely dentate; stem-leaves 

 sessile, nearly round, deeply toothed, with large, bluntish teeth PI. 46*. 



The generic name Dracocephalum means Dragon's-head, 

 and refers to the shape of the corolla. All the species are 

 perennial plants, with the flowers in whorls, and hairy, large, 

 leafy bracts. The species figured is a native of the Altaian 

 mountains, andf has been in cultivation for many years. Its 

 flowers are very beautiful and showy. It grows best in a 

 light, dry soil, where it can have plenty of sun and air; and 

 in such a situation it is raised with very little trouble. 



The American plants which were formerly included in 

 Dracocephalum, have been arranged under the new genus, 

 Physostegia. One of these, the common Dragon's-head, grows 

 wild as far north as Pennsylvania, and is often seen in our gar- 

 dens. The flowers are numerous, pale purple, spotted inside. 

 One or two other species deserve cultivation, particularly 

 Physostegia speciosa, a native of the South, with pink flowers. 



Perhaps the best known foreign species is JD. Canariense, 

 from the Canary Islands. This is very commonly cultivated, 

 under the name of Balm of Gilead, for its powerful and agree- 

 able fragrance. 



