MINT FAMILY. 



239 



15. LA'MIUM, L. Dead-nettle. 



[Greek, Laimos, the throat ; from its gaping flowers.] 



Calyx tubular-campanulate, about 5-nerved ; teeth 5, nearly equal, subu- 

 late at apex. Corolla dilated at the throat, — the upper lip ovate or ob- 

 long, arched, mostly narrowed at base ; lower lip with the middle or 

 lower lobe broad, emarginate, contracted at base and substipitate ; the 

 lateral ones small at the margin of the throat. Stamens 4, ascending 

 under the upper lip ; anthers approximated in pairs, 2-celIed ; cells finally 

 divaricate. Akenes triquetrous with the angles acute truncate at sum- 

 mit, smooth, or minutely rugose-tuberculate. 



1. L. amplexicau'le, L. Leaves 

 rounded, crenately incised, — the 

 lower ones petiolate — the floral 

 ones sessile, amplexicaul ; tube 

 of the corolla naked within, the 

 lateral lobes not toothed ; an- 

 thers hirsute. 



Stem-clasping Lamium. — Dead 



Nettle. Hen-bit. 



Fr. Le Lamier. Germ. Die 



Taube-nessel. Span. Ortiga 



muerta. 



Root annual. Stems several , or much 

 branched from the base, decumbent 

 or ascending, 6-12 inches high, 

 mostly purplish. Leaves half an inch to 

 three quarters in length, and mostly 

 wider than long, the lower or eauline 

 ones on petioles half an inch to an inch 

 long. Cymule densely many-flowered, 

 axillary, the lower ones distant, the 

 upper ones rather approximated. Calyx 

 sessile, hirsute. Corolla bright purple, 

 pubescent, the galeate upper lip nearly 

 entire, clothed with a purple villus ; 

 lower lip obcordate ; throat dilated , 

 laterally compressed ; tube slender, 

 much exserted. The corolla, in the 

 lower cymules, is often minute or 

 wanting. 



Gardens and cultivated lots : introduced. Native of Europe and Northern Africa. Fl. 

 April -May. JV. June. 



Obs. This worthless little weed is abundantly naturalized in and about 

 our gardens in Pennsylvania, — and requires some attention to keep it in 



Fig. 151. A flower of the Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis). 152. The same with the 

 corolla removed and the calyx divided to show the pistil and 4-lobed ovary. 153. The 

 Purple Lamium (Lamium amplexicaule). 



