LABIATE. 



657 



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 up- 

 per lip, each filament with a small tooth below the anthers. 



A very distinct genus, 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. Common Prunella. Prunella vulgaris, Linn. (Fig. 788.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 961. Self-heal) 



Stem procumbent 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 length- 

 ening 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, etc., especially 

 in rather moist situations, throughout 

 Europe and central and B-ussian Asia, 

 to the Arctic regions, extending also 

 over many parts of North America, penetrating into the tropical moun- 

 tains 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. 



Fig. 788. 



IX. SKULLCAP. SCUTELLARIA. 



Herbs (rarely shrubby in some exotic species), usually rather weak or 

 straggling, with the flowers always solitary in the axil of each leaf, 

 VOL. II. N 



