TEUCRIUM Scorodonia.
Wood Germander, or Wood Sage.
DIDYNAMIA Gymnospermia.
Gen. Char. Upper lip of the corolla divided down
below its base and divaricated. Stam. projecting
above it.
Spec. Char. Leaves heart-shaped, serrated, on footstalks.
Stem erect. Flowers leaning to one side,
in lateral and terminal clusters.
Syn. Teucrium Scorodonia. Linn. Sp. PI. 789. Sm.
FI. Brit. 606. Huds. 248. With. 5 1 8 . Hull. 130.
Belli. 224. Sibth. 180. Abbot. 125. Curt. Lond.
fasc. 5. L 40.
Scorodonia, seu Salvia agrestis. Rail Syn. 245. Ger.
em. 662.
V e r y plentiful in dry heathy places, about banks and
copses, where its pale yellow blossoms with their purple projecting
stamina are to be seen in abundance in July and
August.
The roots are creeping and perennial. Stems erect, a foot
or two in height, leafy, square, harsh and hairy j bearing
1 terminal and several lateral simple clusters, or spikes, of
opposite flowers, all which lean one way, and have a pair of
ovate bractese at the base of their partial stalks. Leaves on
footstalks, opposite, heart-shaped, serrated or sharply cre-
nate, rough, rugged, of a darkish green.
The whole plant is bitter, somewhat viscid, with a strong
scent like hops, which, like them, has sometimes a narcotic
effect. It has been recommended as a substitute for hops in
making beer, and we believe is one of the most wholesome
that can be used, being at least as harmless to the nerves as
the plant whose place it is meant to supply, and superior to it
in tonic qualities.