79 ‘CLASS-BOOK OF BOTANY, 
Compare also any of the following genera: Salpiglossis, Schizanthus 
so named from its split corolla), Alonsoa, Linaria, Digitalis (Foxglove) 
Oe ea: Euphrasia (Hyebright), introduced species of Veronica, &c. 
19. SpEAr-mint (Mentha viridis). 
This common garden herb has run wild in many parts of 
the colony, particularly in damp places and along the banks 
of streams. Note the powerful aromatic smell, the square 
stems, and opposite leaves. Towards the ends of the branches 
the flowers appear crowded into terminal spikes. A close 
examination of the inflorescence shows that the upper leaves 
become greatly reduced in size, while in their axils small 
flattened cymes of flowers are produced, and these in conse- 
quence appear to be whorled. The calyx is acutely 5-toothed, 
and persistent. Under a strong lens its surface appears to be 
covered with small oil-glands. Similar glands, but not so 
conspicuous, are scattered over the whole plant, and to these 
the aroma is due. The corolla is 4-lobed, but a notch in the 
upper lobe shows that it is composed of two united together. 
Thus a 2-lipped structure is distinguishable, though it is some- 
what masked by the relatively small size and undivided 
appearance of the upper lip. ‘The 4 stamens are about equal 
in length, while the ovary is remarkably similar in its general 
structure to that of Forget-me-not (p. 68), being 2-celled, 
with each cell deeply 2-lobed, and containing a single inverted 
ovule: ‘The fruit also is so deeply 4-lobed as to appear as 4 
minute smooth nutlets. 
The plant is not a good type of the group to which it 
belongs, and which are called Labiates on account of the 
usually strongly-marked 1- or 2-lipped corolla, but we have 
described it in order to compare it with our only common. 
New Zealand labiate, which is also a Mint—viz., IM. eunning- 
hamii. This little plant is common in dry hilly ground all 
over the country, and produces its solitary and axillary white 
flowers from December to February. These flowers are 
protandrous, and only differ in small details of structure 
from the introduced species. 
y 
Fig. 184. Flowers of N.Z. Fig. 185. N.Z. Mint 
Mint, x 3. Pistil, x 4. 
ae 
