Trans. 16. 186. Oxera of La Billardi^re is probably an error, as we have no 
instance of a pistil being schistocarpous and polyspermous at the same time. 
Geography. Natives of temperate regions in gi'eater abundance than 
elsewhere, their maximum probably existing between the parallels of 40° and 
50° N. latitude. Tliey are found in abundance in hot, dry, exposed situations, 
in meadows, hedgerows, and groves ; not commonly in marshes. In France 
they forai l-24th of the Flora; in Germany, l-26th; in Lapland, l-40th; 
the proportion is the same in the United States of North America, and within 
the tropics of the New World {Humboldt)-, in Sicily they are 1-21 of flower- 
ing plants (PresL); in the Balearic islands, l-19th. About 200 species are 
mentioned in Wallich’s Catalogue of the Indian Flora, a large proportion of 
which is from the northern provinces. They were not found in Melville 
Island. 
Properties. Their tonic, cordial, and stomachic qualities, due to the 
presence of an aromatic volatile oil and a bitter principle, are the universal 
feature of Labiatae, which do not contain a single unwholesome or even sus- 
picious species. On account of the bitter qualities, several are used as 
febrifuges, as the Ocymum febrifugum of Sierra Leone ; and many as 
aromatics in our food, such as Savory, Mint, Marjoram, and Basil. Others 
are found useful in the preparation of slightly tonic beverages, such as Nepeta 
(Glechoma) hederacea. Sage, Balm of Gilead, &c. When the volatile oil is in 
great abundance, as in Lavender and Thyme, an agreeable perfume is the 
result. Rosemary is the herb used in the manufactiu'e of Himgary water. 
The leaves of Ocimum album are considered by the natives of India sto- 
machic, and their juice is prescribed in the catan'hs of children. Ainslie, 
2. 92. The fi-esh juice of Anisochilus (Lavandula camosa, L.) mixed with 
powdered sugarcandy, is prescribed by the native practitioners of India in 
cynanche. Ibid. 2. 144. Tonic and stimulant properties have been ascribed 
to the Origanum Dictamnus. Ibid. 1. 112. It is asserted that the juice of 
the bruised leaves of Phlomis esculenta, di'a'^AUi up the nose, is a specific against 
the bite of serpents ; but there is reason to doubt the truth of this statement, 
as the plant .which is a common weed in Bengal, possesses but a slight 
aromatic scent, and has scarcely any flavour. Trans. M. and P. Soc. Calc. 
2. 405. Hedeoma pulegioides, the Pennyi'oyal of the North Americans, has 
a great popular reputation as an emmenagogue. Barton, 2. 168. Cunila 
mariana is beneficiaUy employed in infusion in slight fevers and colds, with a 
view to excite perspiration. Ibid. 2. 175. The roots of Stachys palustris are 
described as an esculent by Mr. Joseph Houlton. The Panax Colon! of old 
botanists is the same thing. Trans. Soc. Arts, 46. 8. The tubers of the roots 
of some species of Ocimoideae are a common esculent in Madagascar and the 
Malayan archipelago. Perhaps the most singular quality of these plants is 
their containing an abundance of camphor, a substance which seems to exist 
in the whole tribe, and which is found so copiously in the oils of Sage and 
Lavender as to be capable of being advantageously extracted. 
GENERA.* 
§ 1. OciMoiDE.'E, ]Moschosma,Reichenb. Coleus, Lour. Marsypianthes, Mart. 
Benth. Lumnitzera, Jacq. Solenostemon, Schm. Hyptis, Jacq. Benth. 
Ocimum, L. Orthosiphon, Benth. Hoslundia, Vahl. Eriope, H. et B. 
Geniosporum, Wall, Plectranthus, L’Her. Anisochilus, Wall. Lavandula, L. 
Platostoma, P. de B. Germanea, Lam. .^ollanthus. Mart. Stcechas, Toum. 
Mesona, Blume. Dentidia, Lour, Pycnostachys, Hook. Fahricia, Adans. 
Acrocephalus, Benth. Isodon, Schrad. Peltodon, Pohl. Chcetostachys, Benth. 
For this list I am indebted to the friendship of Mr. Bentham, Feb, 1836. 
