264 
BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
essential oil, which is used in medicine. The flowers are pale purple, and they appear in August and Sep¬ 
tember. There are several varieties, but the most ornamental is M. crispa. 
THE WATER MINT. (M. Aouatica, Lin.) 
This plant varies so much in different situations, that specimens of it have been supposed to be numerous dif¬ 
ferent species. The flowers vary from pink to purple, but they ahvays appear in August and September. The 
plant is a perennial, and it grows in watery places. 
THE CORN MINT. (M. arvensis, Lin.) 
This species has a very disagreeable smell, like that of decayed cheese. The flowers are handsome, and of a 
dark rose colour, while the leaves are of a bright green. The plant is common in corn fields, where it flowers 
from July to September. There are two varieties of this species, which are generally called M. acutifolia and 
M. rubra , which are very ornamental. 
PENNY ROYAL. (M. Pulegium, Lin.) 
This plant, which is frequently used in domestic medicine, is not ornamental. It is a perennial, and it 
produces its small purple flowers in August and September. 
GENUS VI. 
THE THYME. (Thymus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIDYNAM1A GYMNOSPERMIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx campanulate; the orifice closed with i the lower three-lohed ; all the lobes nearly equal. Stamens four, dis- 
hairs ; the limb two-lipped ; the upper lip three-toothed ; the lower i tant. ( Lindley.) 
bifid, or with two bristles. Corolla short; the upper lip emarginate ; | 
Description, &c.—T here is only one species in this genus. The name of Thymus is from a Greek word, 
signifying strength, from the smell being considered strengthening and reviving. 
1.— THE WILD THYME. (Thymus Serpyllum, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot. t. 1514 ; 2nd. ed., t. 816 ; and our fig. 3, in PI. 50. 
Specific Character. —Flowers in small heads. Stems recumbent. Leaves flat, ovate, obtuse, entire, fringed at their base. ( Smith.) 
Description, &c.—I t seems almost superfluous to attempt to describe Wild Thyme ; as, who is there that has 
not breathed its refreshing fragrance when wandering over grassy hills, where it is crushed beneath the feet at 
every step ? The flowers, which are of a dark reddish purple, continue appearing all the summer; and the 
plant spreads so abundantly in dry, chalky, and gravelly soils, as to form a kind of elastic turf over heaths and 
mountains. The stems are woody, and the plant is generally called a trailing shrub. 
GENUS VII. 
THE MARJORAM. (Origanum, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx cylindrical, five-toothed, when in fruit closed up with hairs. Corolla short ; the upper lip erect, emarginate; 
the lower trifid, and all the lobes nearly equal. Stamens four, distant. ( Lindl .) 
Description, &c. —There is only one British species of this genus, namely the common Marjoram, (0. ml- 
