Ground-ivy

Ground-ivy (Glechóma hederacea, united with the genus Népetæ by some botanists as N. Glechóma), a plant of the natural order Labiatae, a common native of Britain and other parts of Europe, growing in waste places, plantations, hedges, &c., in a dry soil. It has a creeping stem, kidney-shaped crenate leaves, and axillary blue flowers growing in threes. A tea prepared from the leaves is in great repute among the poor in many places, and the plant is supposed to be stimulant, aromatic, and of use in pectoral complaints. The leaves were formerly used in England for clarifying and flavouring ale, which was then called Gill-ale or Gell-ale, from Gill or Gell, an old name of this plant; but this use has been discontinued since the introduction of hops.