BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
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gave). It is a perennial plant, growing in dry bushy places, on chalk or lime stone, and producing its pinkisli 
flowers in July and August. The whole plant is powerfully aromatic. The name of Origanum, is derived from 
two Greek words, signifying the joy of the mountain, and Marjoram is said to be a corruption of Origanum. 
GENUS VIII. 
THE BALM. (Melissa, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx cylindrical or gibbous at the base, the 
orifice closed with hairs, or nearly naked, the limb two-lipped, the 
upper lip three-toothed; the lower bifid, or with two bristles. Corolla 
with a two-lipped limb ; the upper lip emarginate, the lower three- 
lobed. Stamens four, the upper ones shorter than the lower. Anthers 
in pairs under the upper lip of the corolla. ( Lindley.) 
Description, &c.— 
The common Balm is not a native of Britain, but there are several well known British 
plants in this genus ; one of which is the Basil thyme, ( M. Acinos , Benth.), an annual plant, with an agreeable 
fragrance, and pale purple flowers, which appear in August; another is the Calamint (M. Calamintha, Lin.) ; 
and another the Wild Basil (M. Clinopodium , Benth). All these plants have several synonymes, having been 
placed by botanists in different genera. The name of Melissa, is from the Greek word for a bee, because bees 
are- very fond of the plants belonging to this genus. 
GENUS IX. 
THE CATMINT. (Nepeta, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx cylindrical. Corolla with along tube ; 1 nate, and concave. Stamens four, the upper ones longer than the 
the orifice gaping ; the upper lip emarginate ; the lower three-lobed ; lower ones. {Lindley.) 
the lateral lobe3 very short, reflexed ; the intermediate one larger, ere- I 
Description, &c. —The plants belonging to this genus are all aromatic and stimulating ; and they are mostly 
perennials. The name of Nepeta is derived from that of a town in Tuscany, near which some of the species are 
found. 
1.—THE COMMON CATMINT, Oil NEP. (Nepeta Cataria, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 137 ; 2nd ed., t. 843. 
Specific Character. —Whorls stalked, crowded into spikes. Leaves finely downy, heart-shaped, stalked, with tootli-like serratures. (Smith.) 
Description, &c.— This plant has a very strong aromatic odour, with which cats are very much delighted, 
and hence the popular English name of Catmint. The flowers are white, tinged with pink, and spotted with a 
darker red. The plant is a perennial, and it flowers in July and August. The leaves are woolly, and of a 
blueish green. 
2. THE GROUND IVY. (Nepeta Gleciioma, Benth.) 
Synonymes. —Glechoma hederacea, Lin.; Gill.; Alehoof. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 853 ; 2nd ed., t. 844 ; and our fig. 5, 
in PI. 51. 
Specific Character. —Procumbent. Leaves round, crenelled, cor¬ 
date. Whorls few-flowered. Calyx long, rather incurved. (Lindley.) 
Description, Sec. —This beautiful little plant is found abundantly in various parts of England, in dry soils, 
on banks, and under the shade of trees. The plant is aromatic in its qualities, and was formerly frequently taken 
M JI 
