LABIAT/E. 179 



Marrubium. L. 13. 1. 

 From the name of a town in Italy on the Fucine Lake, Maria- 

 urbs ; a small genus. 



M. vulgare. L. Horehound. This plant is from Britain, 

 and has become naturalized in many places, in sandy roads and 

 fields ; aromatic, tonic, diuretic, and laxative, used in affections 

 of the lungs, and still a popular medicine. 



Prunella. L. 13. 1. 

 A softening of the German name of a disease in the jaws and 

 throat, for which this was considered a specific ; a European ge- 

 nus of a few species. 



P. Pennsylvanica. W. Self-heal. Heal-all. Spread over 

 fields and pastures, bearing heads of beautiful purplish flowers, 

 not used to heal any thing. This is doubtless a mere variety of 

 P. vulgaris, L., introduced from Europe. 



Ballota. L. 13. 1. 



B. nigra. L. Black Horehound. A less common plant, 

 introduced from Britain about Boston ; calyx with 5 teeth and 

 10 ribs ; stem 2-3 feet high, with slightly cordate leaves, flowers 

 in axillary whorls, white or purple ; July. 



From the Greek to reject, on account of its offensive odor. 



Galeopsis. L. 13. 1. Hemp Nettle. 

 From the Greek for weasel and appearance, as the flower is 

 thought to have some resemblance to that animal ; 8 species of 

 this genus, chiefly in Europe ; none indigenous to this country. 



G. Tetrahit. L. Flowering Nettle. About houses and waste 

 places, branching, hispid along the stem backwards, and with the 

 joints thickened towards the upper part, and rather handsome 

 flowers ; introduced from Europe. In some places it seems to 

 have sprung up from the straw thrown out from crates of crockery, 

 introduced from England. 



