[ SJ3 ]
GLECHOMA * hederacea
Ground-Ivy.
/ bl
DID YNAMIA Gymnofpermia.
G e n . C h a r . Cal. 5 -cleft, nearly regular. Anther<è
approaching each other in pairs forming a crofs.
S p e c . C h a r . Leaves kidney-fhaped, crenate.
S y n . Gbchoma hederacea. Linn. Sp. PI. Soy. Sm. It.
Brit. 625. Hudf. 254. With. 526. Hull. 125.
Relh. 225. Sibth. 183. Abbot. 128. Curt. Londt
fafc. 2. ti 44. Mart. Fl. Ruß. t. 61. Woodv. Medé
Bot. t. iS .
Calamintha humilior, folio rotundiore. Ran Syn. 243.
ROUND-IVY, Gill, or Alehoof, for it is vulgarly known
by all thofe names, is a very common plant in dry groves,
about hedge-banks, under park walls or pales, and fimilar litua-
tions,whereitputsforth itsfragrant foliage on the firft approach
of fpring, and flowers in April and May.
The roots are perennial and creeping, throwing out running
fcions, which alfo take root to a great extent, and feveral weak
fquare items. Leaves on foot-ftalks, kidney or heart-thaped,
truly crenate (of which kind of margin they are a good example) y
veiny, downy, dotted beneath with glandular points, from
which, as Dr. Withering juftly obferves, the odoriferous oil of
the plant proceeds. Flowers axillary, about 3 to each leaf, on
fhort ftalks. Calyx tubular, ftriated, nearly equally 5-cleft.
Corolla blueith ; its under lip largeft, in 4 broad lobes, and
prettily marked with dark-purple and white. Anther» cohering
in crofs-like pairs, often abortive, as in other creeping-
rooted plants, nor are the feeds often to be found perfect.
The herb has been ufed to give ale a flavour by infufion, but
is more generally taken in the manner of tea, and is fometimes
fold about the ftreets. A very humble poet on the London
Cries has faid
« ■ . "i.— did y e but know the tafte
O f home-found iv y , y e would ne’er explore
F o r foreign fhrubs a diftant Indian fliore.”