BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
263 
banks ©f ponds, and other pieces of water where the soil is gravelly, and the water clear, and it flowers in July 
and August. It yields a black dye, and it is said to be used by those who wish to pass for gipsies, to darken 
their skin. 
GENUS Y. 
THE MINT. (Mentha, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 
Generic Character. —Corolla little longer than the calyx, four-lobed, nearly equal ; the upper lobe broadest, and nearly emarginate. 
Stamens four, distant. (Dec.) 
Description, &c.— This is a very extensive genus, containing many well-known plants, but very few 
have ornamental flowers, though all have an aromatic scent. Mentha is supposed to have been the Greek name 
of one of the species. 
1.— THE SPEAR MINT. (Mentha viridis, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 2424 ; 2nd ed., t. 804. i late, acute, naked. Bracteas bristle-shaped, somewhat hairy, as well 
Specific Character. —Spikes interrupted. Leaves sessile, lanceo- | as the teeth of the calyx. Flower-stalks very smooth. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This is the common Mint of the gardens; and it produces its whorls of small pinkish 
flowers in August and September. The leaves, as is well known, have a pungent and aromatic flavour. It is 
a perennial. 
2.— THE BERGAMOT MINT. (Mentha citrata, Ehr.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1025 ; 2nd ed., t. 806 ; and our fig. 2, in PI. 50. 
Specific Character. —Spikes capitate, very blunt. Leaves stalked, heart-shaped, naked on both sides. Calyx and flowers perfectly smooth. (Smith.) 
Description, &c.— This species has a very fragrant scent, so like that of the Bergamot (Monarcla didyma ), 
that it is cultivated for its perfume. The flowers, which are pink, appear in August and September. The 
leaves are tinged with red, and the whole plant beeomes purple when long exposed to the sun. 
THE HORSE MINT. (M. sylvestris, Smith.) 
This is the most common of all the species, and it has numerous varieties. The whole plant has a shaggy 
appearance, from being covered with long white hairs. The flowers are small, and of a dingy pink ; they 
appear in August and September. The plant is a perennial, and it grows in moist ground in shady places. 
THE ROUND-LEAVED MINT. (M. rotundifolia, Lin.) 
This species is found in moist ground, growing among rubbish. The flowers, which appear in August and 
September, are of a very pale pink. 
THE NARROW-LEAVED RED MINT. (M. pratensis, Sole.) 
The leaves are very handsome, but the flowers, which appear in September, are small, and of a pale lilac. 
The scent is not so strong as that of most of the other species. 
THE PEPPER MINT. (M. piperita, Smith.) 
There are several varieties of this well known plant, which is cultivated extensively for the sake of its 
