352 THE LABIATE FAMILY. [Nepeta. 
of about 6; the tube of the corolla at least twice as long as the calyx, 
Glechoma hederacea, Linn. | 
Under hedges, on banks, edges of woods, and waste places, throughout 
Europe and central and Russian Asia, excepting the extreme north, 
extending eastward to Japan. Very abundant in Britain. Fl. early 
spring. 
2, N. Cataria, Linn. (fig. 794). Catmint—An erect, branching 
perennial, 2 feet high or more, of a pale green, or somewhat hoary — 
with minute down. Leaves stalked, ovate-cordate, pointed, and coarsely 
toothed, often whitish underneath. Flowers rather small, pale blue or 
nearly white, crowded in compact cymes, forming short, oblong spikes 
at the ends of the branches, with frequently 1 or 2 clusters a little 
lower down. Calyx softly downy, nearly as long as the tube of the 
corolla. 
In hedges, on roadsides and waste places, throughout Europe and 
central and Russian Asia, except the extreme north. Tolerably frequent 
in the south and centre of England, and in Ireland, less so in the 
north, and not a native of Scotland. Fl. summer, rather late. 
VIII. PRUNELLA. PRUNELLA. 
Low, branching, hairy perennials, with the flowers in whorls of 6, 
but collected into dense terminal heads, with broad, bract-like floral 
leaves under each whorl, and no real bracts. Calyx 2-lipped, the upper 
lip flat, the lower deeply 2-lobed, the mouth not closed with hairs. 
Upper lip of the corolla erect, concave, short, broad, and nearly entire ; 
the lower one spreading, 3-lobed. Stamens 4, in pairs under the upper 
lip, each filament with a small tooth below the anthers. 
A very distinct genus (often spelled Brunella), containing, besides the 
British one, but two species, both natives of the continent of Europe ; 
one of which, P. grandiflora, chiefly distinguished by the large size of 
its flowers, is often cultivated in cottage-gardens. 
1. P. vulgaris, Linn. (fig. 795). Prunella, Self-heal.—Stem procum- 
bent or creeping, and rooting at the base, with ascending flowering 
branches, sometimes 2 or 3 inches, rarely near a foot high. Leaves 
stalked, ovate, and nearly entire. Spikes of flowers at first very short, 
but lengthening out to 1 or even 2 inches, with a pair of leaves close 
under it. Corolla usually of a violet purple, about 6 lines long, but 
varying much in size and depth of colour; the upper lip bends over the 
lower one, which is scarcely longer, with a broad, finely-toothed middle 
lobe. 
In pastures, on banks, &c., especially in rather moist situations, 
throughout Europe, north and central Asia, and North America, pene- 3 
trating into the Arctic regions, and into the tropical mountains of 
America and Asia, and reappearing in Australia. Abundant in Britain. 
Fl. summer and autumn. In some countries it varies much more than 
in Britain, in stature and foliage, as well as in the size and colour of 
the flowers. | 
IX, SCUTELLARIA. SKULLCAP. 
Herbs (rarely shrubby in some exotic species), usually rather weak or 
straggling, with the flowers always solitary in the axil of each lea 
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