16 



SPIKED MINTS. 



PL. VII. 



7. TRUE PEPPER-MINT. 



THIS plant grows from three feet to three and a half in height; its 

 ftalks are fquare, firm, upright, not much branched, and of a brownifh 

 red colour, terminating in beautiful long fpikes of pale-red flowers ; the 

 three or four lowermoft whirles are interrupted, or fomewhat diftant, in 

 the fame manner as in the fpear-mint ; the ftamens are juft equal to the 

 bloffom, and in fight when that is expanded. The leaves are long, nar- 

 row, acuminated, fharply ferrated, ftanding on footftalks, and are of a 

 very dark-green colour; and when viewed on the under fide through a 

 common pocket magnifying-glafs, in the fun or by candle-light, innume- 

 rable bright filver fpangles are difplayed all over the furface, which perhaps 

 is its effential oil. All the Mints exhibit fomething of this kind, but 

 none in fo eminent a degree as this does. The calix is ftill fuller of 

 thofe fpangles than the leaves. I conclude it is from thefe fpangles or 

 gems, (whether they be effential fait, or effential oil of the plant, let 

 better judges determine) that it derives its virtues in cafes of ftone and 

 gravel; for which purpofes, in Plukenet's time, it was in fo high efteem 

 as to gain the title of Saxifraga ; and its fingular efficacy as a carmi- 

 native is well known in all families. 



This plant grows fpontaneoufly in a fwampy place on Lanfdown called 

 the Wells, it being the fpring-head of Locks-brook. It is alfo found by 

 the fide of the Avon in Newton-Mead. 



The whole plant has a very grateful poignant tafte and fmell of pepper. 

 It blows in the middle of Auguft. 



