KOUND-HEADED MINTS. 



10. LESSER WATER-MINT. 



PL. X. 



THIS plant grows about a foot and a half in height; its ftalk is fquare, 

 upright, hairy, and much branched, terminating in a fuperb round head 

 of flowers, with two collateral ones at the joint immediately under it ; the 

 collateral branches alfo terminate in a head of flowers, but they are fmaller 

 than thofe of the main ftalk; the flowers are of a beautiful vivid red 

 colour, with the ftamens longer than the bloffom. The leaves are rigid, 

 a little crifped or curled, the lower ones ftanding on fhort foot-ftalks, but 

 the upper ones are feffile; they are of a dark green above and almoft 

 fmooth, but pale and hairy underneath; their fhape is partly ovate and 

 partly cordate; they are ferrated and (hort-pointed, and their nerves are 

 particularly ftrong and harfh. 



This plant, when in bloom, is of fingular beauty, and worthy of admi- 

 ration: it has a ftrong volatile fmell of fait of amber, and of courfe is an 

 excellent antihyfterick and cephalick. 



I have rejected the term hirfuta, becaufe in Somerfetfhire, Wiltfhire, and 

 in Wales, it is a great deal fmoother than the aquatica major, although 

 in Hornfey-lane near London, and fome other fituations, I have obferved 

 it to be more hairy, but it is by no means conftantly fo. 



It grows frequently in fwamps in elevated fituations, fuch as the fides 

 of our downs, Mendip-hills, &c. 



It flowers towards the end of July. 



