Galeopsis
(the old Greek name used by Dioscorides, from gale, a weasel, and opsis, appearance; in allusion to the likeness of the flower to a weasel's snout). SYN. Tetrahit. ORD. Labiatoe. This genus, according to some authorities, contains twelve species of hardy, erect, or slightly decumbent, annual herbs; whilst other reduce the number of species to three. They are natives of Europe and West Asia. Flowers red, yellow, or variegated, sessile; calyx nearly regular, with five pointed teeth; corolla with a tube larger than the calyx. the species thrive in any ordinary garden soil, and are propagated by seed.
G. Ladanum (Ladanum). fl. purple, six to ten together, in dense whorls in the upper axils, the upper ones forming a terminal head. Summer and autumn. l. shortly stalked, narrow-ovate or lanceolate, coarsely toothed. h. 8in. to 9in. This species varies considerably in the breadth of leaf, in the degree of hairiness, and in the size of the flowers. (Sy. En. B. 1074, 1075.) G. versicolor (various-coloured). fl. yellow, with a purple spot on the lower lip, large. Summer and autumn. l. stalked, ovate, very pointed, and coarsely toothed. Stem hispid. This is considered by some authors to be a variety of G. Tetrahit, a common cornfield weed in Britain. (Sy. En. B. 1077.)