260 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
CHAPTER LXYII. 
THE LABIATE FAMILY. (Labiate, Just.) 
Character of the Order. —Calyx tubular, five or ten-toothed, 
inferior, persistent ; the odd tooth being next the axis ; regular or 
irregular. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, bilabiate ; the upper 
lip undivided or bifid, overlapping the lower, which is larger and 
three-lobed. Stamens four, didynamous, inserted upon the corolla, 
alternately with the lobes of the lower lip ; the two upper sometimes 
wanting ; anthers two-lobed, the lobes sometimes so far apart at the 
base, that the two cells are confluent at the apex ; sometimes one cell 
altogether obsolete. Ovarium deeply four-lobed, inserted in a fleshy 
hypogynous disk; the lobes each containing one erect ovulum ; style 
one ; stigma bifid, usually acute. Fruit four small nuts inclosed 
within the persistent calyx. Seeds erect, with little or no albumen ; 
embryo erect; cotyledons flat. Herbaceous plants or under shrubs. 
Stem four-cornered, with opposite ramifications. Leaves opposite, 
divided or undivided, without stipulae, replete with receptacles of aro¬ 
matic oil. Flowers in opposite, nearly sessile cymes, resembling 
whorls; sometimes as if capitate. ( Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —The labiate plants are very easily known from the singular form of their flowers, which 
consist of two distinct parts or lips, one of which generally falls down, and is divided into three lobes; 
while the other is entire and stands erect. Many of the plants belonging to this order are well known for their 
aromatic qualities, such as thyme, sage, mint, and balm; for which, indeed, they are more remarkable than for 
the beauty of their flowers. They have also generally square stems, and the flowers, which are small, are 
disposed in small clusters opposite each other, so as to appear whorled. None of the species are injurious, and 
some of them are powerful tonics. 
GENUS I. 
THE SAGE. (Salvia, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx somewhat campanulate, two-lipped ; j Stamens two. Anthers consisting of a long linear connective, with a 
the upper lip entire or three-toothed, the lower bifid ; the orifice j fertile cell at the upper extremity, and usually connected together at 
naked. Corolla ringent ; the upper lip fornicate and emarginate. the lower extremity. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c. —It is rather singular that though the common Sage of the kitchen is a Salvia, and 
though the botanic word Salvia is always translated Sage, yet that the plant called the Wild Sage is not a Salvia, 
but a Teucrium, and that the only two British species of Salvia bear the English name of Clary. The name of 
Salvia is derived from the Latin word Salvus, that is, safe, in allusion to the supposed medical virtues of the 
common Garden Sage; and that these were formerly highly estimated, is also proved by the proverb, which 
says, “ Why should a man die who has sage in his garden ? ” The genus is placed in the Linnman class and order 
Diandria Monogynia, from its two stamens, and its single style. 
1.—THE MEADOW CLARY. (Salvia pratensis, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 153 ; 2nd ed., t. 31 ; and our Jig. 1, base; uppermost clasping the stem. Bracteas very small. Summit 
in PI. 50. of the corolla glutinous. (Smith.) 
Specific Character. —Leaves oblong, crenate, heart-shaped at the 
Description, &c. —This is a very handsome perennial, with large dark purple flowers, which are produced 
in July. It is found in Kent and Surrey, but it is rare in both counties. It grows about three feet high, and is 
very ornamental, but not very aromatic. 
