The BRITISH HER B A L. 
381 
N U 
XII. 
DITTANY OF CRETE. 
D I C t: A M N U S. 
The tubular part is compreflcd. The 
d 
THE flower is formed of a fingle petal, and is labiated . 
upper lip is undivided, rounded at the end, and placed ereft : the lower ,s d,v,ded >nto 
three nearly equal fegments. The cup is general, containing many Bowers, and >s a k,nd ol 
fcaly head, which hangs drooping. The feeds are four after every flower ; and they are fmall, and 
the flower having four threads, of which 
of a roundiflr figure. 
Linna:us places this among the -ii^fy;™ S™''#'™'f •• . _ „ , , , „ v 
two are longer than the others, and the feeds ftanding naked m the cup. But he does not allow it to 
be a diftinft : he genus calls it a kind of origanum. r a ■ . 
The loofe compoCt.on of the general cup, and its drooping pofture on the plant, are fufficent 
difl-inftions from eriganum, and 
vc it a right to retain its antient name. 
Dittany of Crete. 
Diliammis Creticus. 
This is a very Angular and very elegant plant. 
The root is compofcd of a great many long, 
nender, and tough fibres, conncfled to a fmall 
head. 
The ftalk is fquare, upright, of a purpldh co- 
lour, and firm fublfance ; it is a foot high, and 
it fends out numerous branches. 
The leaves fl;and in pairs, and at fmall drf- 
tancess and they are of a fingular ap, earance : 
they are broad, fliort, and fomcwhat rounded ; 
but they have a point at the end 1 and they are 
of a greyifli colour, and covered with a thick, 
woolly matter. 
The flowers are fmall and pur^ile : they are 
collefttd into oblong, loofe he.id', and thefc h.ang 
drooping at the extremities of all the branches. 
The fc^ds are fmail. 
It is a native of the Greek iflands, and of fome 
of the warmer parts of Europe. It flowers in 
July. 
C. Bauhine calls it DiUamnus Crettais. Others, 
BiSlamnus Creticus ao'is. 
It is celebrated among the vulnerary plants by 
the antients ; and many incredible fliories are re- 
lated of its effcds. 
It is in reality cordial and deobilruent ; and is 
good in all obfliruflions of the vifcera. 
GENUS XIII. 
SWEET MARJORAIVI. 
A M A R A C U S. 
nnHE flower is formed of a Angle petal, and is labiated. The tubular part is (hort and com- 
1 Dteflijd The upper lip is undvidcd, rounded at the end, and placed ereft : the lower hp is 
divided into 'three equal fegments. The common cup is formed of fcaly leaves, and is ot a fquara 
fiaure The feeds are four after every flower ; and they are roundiQi. 
°Linnaeus places this among the iidynam.a gymmfpermia ; the flower having four threads ; of which 
two are longer than the others, and feeds remaining naked m the cup. 
This author does not allow it to be a difl:ina genus ; 
fquare fliape of the head or general cup 
gives it a right to retain its antient name. 
but makes it a fpecies of origmmi. The 
fuffi'cient dillinftion of this plant from origammi, and 
Common Sweet Marjoram. 
Amaracus vulgaris. 
The root is compofed of numerous, long, 
tough, brown fibres. 
The fl:alk is fquare, upright, branched, and a 
foot high : its colour is brown, and its fubftance 
brittle. 
The leaves are placed in pairs at fmall dif- 
tances ; and they are oblong, broad, obtufe at the 
end, and of a light green. 
The flowers arc fmall and white; they are 
placed in great numbers in oblong, fquare heads 
at the tops of the (talk and branches. 
It is a native of Spain, and other warmer parts 
of Europe, and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Majorana vulgaris. Othcrsy 
Amaracus hsrtenjis. 
It is common at our tables s and it has vir- 
tues as a medicine. It warms and ilrengthens 
the ftomach, and is go d in vertigoes, giddi- 
nefs of the head, and other nervous complaints. 
N» XXXVIII. 5E GENUS 
