Lamiaceae (Labiateae)
(Mint Family)
Habit
- herbs (shrubs) with
square stems
Leaves
-
opposite,
simple, usually with
aromatic glands
Inflorescence
-
axillary cymes or
whorls
(verticils), or
racemose
Flowers
-
irregular (usu.
bilabiate)
Sepals
- 5,
connate
Petals
- 5,
connate;
corolla often
bilabiate
Stamens
- 2 or 4,
adnate to
corolla
Ovary
-
superior, of 2
fused carpels,
4-lobed or divided into 4
locules each with 1
ovule
Style
- 1,
gynobasic,
2-lobed near
apex,
deciduous
Fruit
- 4 nutlets
Diversity
- 200 genera / 3200 species
Distribution
- cosmopolitan but most abundant in Mediterranean and
Central Asia
Economics
- medicinal and
culinary herbs: sage, rosmary, thyme, lavender, mint, basil, oregano, marjoram . . .
Notes
-
Images
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