172 ORDER ANGIOSPERMIA. 
fs divided into ring cut, or gaping, and personate , or closed. These 
terms have been used in an indefinite manner. Linnaeus called the 
whole tribe ringent; these he subdivided into labiate and personate. 
This division is illogical, since the specific term labiate , having lips, 
has a more general signification than the generic term ringent , lips 
gaping. 
A few of the labiate flowers having but two stamens, are placed in 
the class Diandria, as the sage and mountain-mint. Yet they have, 
besides their two perfect stamens, the rudiments of two others, as, if 
nature had designed them for didynamous plants. Linnaeus remarks, 
that the insects most fond of frequenting these plants have but two 
perfect wings ; while the rudiments of two other wings may be found 
concealed under a lit tie membrane;—How wonderful are the sym¬ 
pathies of nature t 
When you examine a labiate flower, as balm or catmint, you will 
observe that the arched upper lip of the petals covers the stamens, 
and that the lower lip hangs down, so that you can see the inside of 
the corolla. If you pull out the corolla, you will find the stamens at¬ 
tached to it, as they usually are to monopetalous corollas. The co¬ 
rolla shows an aperture at the base through which the pistil as¬ 
cended. 
The labiate plants inhabit-hills and plains exposed to the sun. The 
aroma which escapes from their flowers, denotes their stimulating 
medicinal properties. Their action upon the animal economy differs 
according to the quantity of essential oil and of bitter principle which 
they contain; when the former prevails, as in mint, they are aroma¬ 
tic and stimulating; when the bitter principle is in excess, as in ger¬ 
mander, they act as tonics, and strengthen the digestive organs.. 
The pericarp of the labiate flowers belongs to Mirbel’s class of 
fruits, called cenobion. 
Order Gymnospermia. 
The plants in this order have labiate corollas ©f the ringent kind y 
the seeds are four , lying uncovered in the calyx; the flowers grow 
m whorls; the stein is four-angled, and the leaves opposite. The 
calyx is either five-parted, or the upper part consists of two divi¬ 
sions, called lips. 
At Fig. 137 is a flower of the genus Tencrium, {germander ;) the 
corolla is ringent, the upper lip two-cleft, the lower lip three-cleft; 
the stamens and pistils are incurved ; the stamens are exseri through 
the cleavage on the upper side;—h, shows the pistil with its four un¬ 
covered, or gymnospermous seeds. 
The ringent flowers generally grow in whorls at the upper part of* 
an angular stem, the leaves standing opposite. These plants are 
never poisonous. Among them we find many aromatic plants, the 
peppermint, lavender, savory, marjoram, thyme, &c.; also many 
medicinal herbs, as pennyroyal, catmint, horehound, &c.; the scull- 
cap, ( Scutellaria. ,) which has been said to be a remedy for the hy¬ 
drophobia, the modest Isantlms , (blue gentian,) and a little flower of 
a most beautiful blue colour, called blue curls, ( THcliostema .) 
Order Angiospermia . 
The second order contains those plants which have many seeds, 
contained in a capsule. Plants of this order appear to have an af¬ 
finity with some families of the class Pentandria. Many in addition 
How divided?—Are all labiate flowers in the class Didynamia ?—What is said of 
the properties of these plants ?—What kind of pericarps have the labiate flowers?— 
What plants in the order Gymnospermi i ?—Describe Fiy. 137—What is said of the 
ringent flowers ?—How is the order Angiospermia distinguished ? 
