2 rather longer than the others : filaments bearded :
anthers iiiciimbent, 2-celled : pollen white. Style
smooth. Stigma 2-cleft, with acute points.
This fine species of Dracocephalum is a native of
North America, and has been introduced to our gardens
within these few years, where it has always been
cultivated under the name that we have adopted, but
we do not find it any where recorded. It belongs to
the same section of the genus as D. denticulatum, and
1). virginianum, but is readily distinguished from both
by its panicled habit.
The spikes of flowers in this species are regularly
4-sided, although, when growing in the garden, the
flowers are often seen to be all facing one way ; this is
owing to the short and weak pedicles, and the weight of
the flower, keeping it so firm on the bracte, that whatever
way the wind blows it, there it remains ; so that
when the wind blows strong from any quarter, the
flowers are always facing the opposite direction. If
a branch is cut off and held in the hand, the flowers
may be moved by the other hand in the same manner,
either all to one side, or some to one side, and some to
the other, and wherever they are placed, there they
will remain.
Our drawing was taken from a fine plant, in September
last, at the Nursery of Messrs. Whitley, Brames,
and Milne, at Fulham. It succeeds well iu the open
ground in a rich light soil, where it will attain the
height of 3 or 4 feet; and it may be readily increased
by dividing at the root.
1. Calyx. 2. Corolla spread open, to show the insertion of the Stamens.
3. One of the Stamens detached. 4. The 4 Seeds with the Style between
them, terminated by a clet't Stigma.