19. MONÁRDA, L. Horse-Mint.
Calyx tubular, elongated, 15-nerved, nearly equally 5-toothed, usually hairy in the throat. Corolla elongated, with a slightly expanded throat, and a strongly 2-lipped limb; lips linear or oblong, somewhat equal, the upper erect, entire or slightly notched, the lower spreading, 3-lobed at the apex, its lateral lobes ovate and obtuse, the middle one narrower and slightly notched. Stamens 2, elongated, ascending, inserted in the throat of the corolla; anthers linear (the divaricate cells confluent at the junction).—Odorous erect herbs, with entire or toothed leaves, and pretty large flowers in a few whorled heads, closely surrounded with bracts. (Dedicated to Nicolas Monardes, author of many tracts upon medicinal and other useful plants, especially those of the New World, in the latter half of the 16th century.)
[*] Stamens and style exserted beyond the linear straight acute upper lip of the corolla; heads solitary and terminal or sometimes 2 or 3; leaves acutely more or less serrate; perennials.
[+] Leaves petioled; calyx-teeth scarcely longer than the width of the tube.
1. M. dídyma, L. (Oswego Tea. Bee-Balm.) Somewhat hairy (2° high), acutely 4-angled; leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, the floral ones and the large outer bracts tinged with red; calyx smooth, incurved, nearly naked in the throat; corolla smooth (2´ long), bright red, showy.—Moist woods by streams, N. Eng. to Mich., south to Ga. in the mountains. July–Aug.
2. M. clinopòdia, L. Nearly glabrous to villous-pubescent; leaves ovate-lanceolate and ovate; bracts whitish; calyx moderately hirsute in the throat; corolla slightly pubescent (1´ long), dull white or flesh-colored.—Shady places, ravines, etc., Ont. to Ill., and along the mountains to Ga.
3. M. fistulòsa, L. (Wild Bergamot.) Smoothish or downy, 2–5° high; leaves ovate-lanceolate, the uppermost and outer bracts somewhat colored (whitish or purplish); calyx slightly curved, very hairy in the throat; corolla (1´ long or more) purple or purplish dotted, smooth or hairy.—Dry soil, Vt. and E. Mass, to Fla., and far westward. Very variable; the following are the more marked forms.—Var. rùbra, Gray. Corolla bright crimson or rose-red; habit of n. 1, but upper lip of corolla villous-bearded on the back at tip; throat of calyx with the outer bristly hairs widely spreading. In moist ground, Alleghany Mts.—Var. mèdia, Gray. Corolla deep purple. Alleghany Mts.—Var. móllis, Benth. Corolla flesh-color to lilac, glandular, its upper lip hairy outside or more bearded at the tip; leaves paler, soft-pubescent beneath; throat of calyx mostly filled with dense beard, with sometimes an outer row of bristles. Extends to Minn. and westward.
[+][+] Leaves nearly sessile; calyx-teeth elongated, lax; head solitary.
4. M. Bradburiàna, Beck. Leaves clothed with long soft hairs, especially underneath; the floral and the outer bracts somewhat heart-shaped, purplish; calyx smoothish, contracted above, very hairy in the throat, with awl-shaped awned teeth; corolla smoothish, bearded at the tip of the upper lip, scarcely twice the length of the calyx, pale-purplish, the lower lip dotted with purple.—Thickets, Ind. to Tenn. and Kan.
[*][*] Stamens not exceeding the falcate upper lip of the short corolla; heads axillary or interrupted spicate; leaves lanceolate or oblong, sparsely serrate, tapering into the petiole.