LXXV. LABIATE 391 
olate, acute. Corolla bell-shaped, slightly longer than the calyx, 
4-lobed. Stamens 2, slightly protruding. 
Matiana, in marshy ground ; July. — Punjab plains, ascending to 7000 ft. — 
Temperate Asia, Europe (Britain, Gipsywort). 
11. ORIGANUM. The classical name of a species of wild 
Marjoram. — N. temperate regions. 
Origanum vulgare, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 648. An erect herb, 
1-3 ft., more or less clothed with short hairs. Leaves stalked, 
ovate, about lx| in., entire. Flowers small, pink, crowded in 
numerous, 4-sided spikes J-l in. long in clusters or heads at the 
end of branches, sometimes forming terminal panicles ; floral 
leaves bract-like, lanceolate, longer than the calyx, overlapping, 
often tinged with purple. Calyx bell-shaped, enlarged in fruit, 
5-toothed, mouth hairy within. Corolla-tube longer than the 
calyx ; limb 2-lipped, upper lip erect, nearly flat, notched, lower 
spreading, 3-lobed. Stamens 4 in unequal pairs, slightly protru- 
ding. 
Simla, common ; August, September. — Temperate Asia, N. Africa, Europe 
(Britain, Wild Marjoram). 
The Sweet Marjoram, 0. Marjorana, is cultivated in gardens throughout 
India ; an oil is obtained from the seeds. 
12. THYMUS. The classical name of the common Thyme, 
T. vulgaris . — Temperate regions of the Old World. 
Thymus Serpyllum, Linn . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 649. An aromatic, 
hairy, more or less procumbent, often tufted shrub, usually about 
6-42 in. Leaves nearly sessile, gland-dotted, oblong-ovate, about 
^ in., entire, obtuse. Flowers small, purple, sometimes 1-sexual, 
in small whorls crowded in short, terminal spikes. Calyx 
hairy, gland-dotted, 2-lipped, mouth hairy within ; upper lip 
broad, 3-toothed, lower 2-parted, segments linear. Corolla-tube 
as long as the calyx ; limb 2-lipped, upper lip nearly erect, flat, 
notched, lower spreading, 3-lobed. Stamens 4, nearly equal, pro- 
truding. 
Simla, common on the downs ; May-October. — W. Himalaya, 5000-10,000 
ft. — Temperate Asia, N. Africa, Europe (Britain, Wild Thyme). 
13. MICR0MERIA. From the Greek micros, small, and 
meros, a part ; referring to the small flowers. — Most temperate 
and warm regions ; absent from Australia. 
Micromeria biflora, Benth . ; FI. Br. Ind. iv. 650. A hairy, 
usually tufted, nearly erect shrub,. 6-12 in., somewhat resembling 
Thyme. Leaves sessile, gland-dotted, ovate, J in., acute. Flowers 
stalked, small, pink or nearly white, in axillary whorls of 1-4. 
Calyx hairy, tubular, prominently 13-nerved, equally 5-toothed. 
