SAYRE'S MATERIA MEDICA - Part V - Southwest School of ...

LABIATÆ.—Mint Family
One of the most natural groups of plants in the vegetable kingdom. Its members
being so uniform, it would seem as if all of its species could be comprehended in a
single genus; hence the characteristics of its different genera are very difficult to
make out.
DESCRIPTION.—Herbs with opposite or whorled leaves. Flowers in axils of leaves or
bracts, solitary or clustered cymes, scattered or crowded into spikes. Calyx
sometimes 2-lipped, upper lip bifid, lower trifid, sometimes subregular. Corolla
monopetalous, bilabiate, the upper lip entire or emarginate, the lower 3-lobed,
sometimes bell- or funnel-shaped, with 4 subequal lobes (Mentha). Stamens 4,
inserted on the corolla tube, didynamous (2 long and 2 short), or 2 by the abortion of
the 2 tipper (Lycopus, Salvia, Rosmarinus). Ovary 4-lobed. Ovules 4. Style simple,
rising from the base of the ovarian lobes. Fruit separating into 4 akenes. Stem
quadrangular, with volatile oil secreted in vascular glands.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DRUGS OF THE ORDER
In most instances the drug consists of dry herbs composed of leaves, or leaves and
tops, with portions of stem, branches, and flowers. These are usually broken and
intermixed. Odor aromatic, due to the secreted volatile oil; some species hold in
solution a solid hydrocarbon (stearopten) analogous to camphor. Taste aromatic,
pungent, cooling, and bitterish (marrubium). The odor and taste are frequently
sufficient to distinguish the different drugs, but a knowledge of the size, shape, and
marginal character of the leaves and their texture, and the character of the stem and
branches is sometimes quite useful in the identification of the various drugs derived
from the order.
Sayre’s Materia Medica part V - Page 14