Plant Gardens 101

Mint family
Labiatae
Sal’vi-a. Sage. About 750 species of herbs, subshrubs, or shrubs distributed throughout the tropical and temperate world. The leaves of some species are used as a seasoning.

Description
Stems usually square. Leaves in pairs, opposite, simple, ovalish or lance-shaped, sometimes hairy, the margins toothed or deeply cut into segments, smaller toward the top. Flowers in whorls, the clusters 2- to many-flowered, growing from the axils of small, leafy bracts and arranged in terminal spikes or racemes. Colors varying. Calyx 5-lobed, joined about halfway down. Corolla 2-lipped, 3 lobes in the lower lip and 2 in the upper lip. Stamens 4, in pairs.

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Mint family
Labiatae
Sat-you-ree’a. Savory . About 30 species of aromatic herbs or small shrubs, distributed through the temperate regions of the world. The species below is used as an herb. Sometimes spelled Satureia .

Description
Stems usually square. Leaves opposite, ovalish or lance-shaped, the margins sometimes toothed. Flowers pink, white, or purplish, in whorls, in axillary or terminal racemes. Calyx 5-lobed, usually tubular. Corolla a narrow tube opening into 2 lips, upper lip 2-lobed and flat, lower lip 3-lobed and widely flaring. Stamens 4, in pairs.

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Mint family
Labiatae
Mol-lew-sell’a. Two species of aromatic Old World annual herbs, both found in old-fashioned gardens, the one below widely cultivated for fresh and dried flowers.

Description
Leaves opposite, stalked, generously toothed. Flowers very small, in whorls in the leaf axils. Corolla tiny, irregular, white or pinkish, scarcely or not exceeding the bristly or prickly calyx.

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Mint family
Labiatae
Ko’lee-us. About 150 species of foliage plants of the Old World tropics. In the Midwest, called the Foliage Plant.

Description
Mostly succulent herbs, with stems square, leaves opposite and toothed. Flowers in clusters of 6 or more, with a short 2-lipped calyx, lower lip with 4 teeth; corolla 2-lipped, the upper short with 2-4 lobes, the lower boat-shaped. Stamens 4.

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Mint family
Labiatae
Or-rig’a-num. A genus of herbs or dwarf shrubs. Mediterranean region to cen. Asia.

Description
Leaves opposite and simple. Flowers few to many, arranged in spikelets, inflorescences with enlarged, overlapping bracts.

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Mint family
Labiatae
Per-rill’a. A small genus of tender herbaceous annuals, natives of e. Asia.

Description
Leaves green or dark reddish brown, in opposite pairs, inversely heart-shaped. Flowers small, in pairs, borne in the axils or bracts in terminal racemes.

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Mint family
Labiatae
Os’si-mum. Aromatic herbs (rarely shrubs) comprising 150 species, the one below cultivated for its fragrant, edible foliage.

Description
Leaves opposite, mostly toothed. Flowers small, irregular, crowded in whorls grouped in branching racemes. Corolla very small, usually not exceeding the toothed calyx, the lobes or teeth recurved in fruit.

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