connections; the latter the
parsleys and their relatives. With the exception of tarragon, which
belongs to the Compositae, parsley and a few of its relatives which have
deserted their own ranks, all the important leaf herbs belong to the
Labiatae; and without a notable exception all the herbs whose seeds are
used for flavoring belong to the Umbelliferae. Fennel-flower, which
belongs to the natural order Ranunculaceae, or crowfoot family, is a
candidate for admission to the seed sodality; costmary and southernwood
of the Compositae seek membership with the leaf faction; rue of the
Rutaceae and tansy of the Compositae, in spite of suspension for their
boldness and ill-breeding, occasionally force their way back into the
domain of the leaf herbs. Marigold, a composite, forms a clique by
itself, the most exclusive club of all. It has admitted no members! And
there seem to be no candidates.

The important members of the Labiatae are:

Sage (_Salvia officinalis_, Linn.).
Savory (_Satureia hortensis_, Linn.).
Savory, winter (_Satureia montana_, Linn.).
Thyme (_Thymus vulgaris_, Linn.).
Marjoram (_Origanum Marjoram_; _O. Onites_, Linn.; and
_M. vulgare_, Linn.).
Balm (_Melissa officinalis_, Linn.).
Basil (_Ocimum Basilicum_, Linn., and _O. minimum_, Linn.).
Spearmint (_Mentha spicata_, Linn., or _M. viridis_, Linn.).
Peppermint (_Mentha Piperita_, Linn.).
Rosemary (_Rosmarinus officinalis_, Linn.).
Clary (_Salvia Sclarea_, Linn.).
Pennyroyal (_Mentha Pulegium_, Linn.).
Horehound (_Marrubium vulgare_, Linn.).
Hyssop (_Hyssopus vulgaris_, Linn.).
Catnip (_Nepeta Cataria_, Linn.).
Lavender (_Lavandula vera_, D. C.; _L. spica_, D. C.).

These plants, which are mostly natives of mild climates of the old
world, are characterized by having square stems; opposite, simple leaves
and branches; and more or less two-lipped flowers which appear in the
axils of the leaves, occasionally alone, but usually several together,
forming little whorls, which often compose loose or compact spikes or
racemes. Each fertile blossom is followed by four little seedlike fruits
in the bottom of the calyx, which remains attached to the plant. The
foliage is generally plentifully dotted with minute glands that contain
a volatile oil, upon which depends the aroma and piquancy peculiar to
the individual species.

The leading species of the Umbelliferae are:

Parsley (_Carum Petroselinum_, Benth. and Hook.).
D