HORMINUM, CLARY, in botany: A genus of the gymnospermia order, belonging to the didynamia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 42d order, Verticillata. The calyx is campanulated, with four segments nearly equal, the fourth larger, and emarginated; the upper lip of the corolla concave. There are several species; the most remarkable of which is the verbenaceum, or common wild clary. It grows naturally on sandy and gravelly ground in many parts of Britain. It has sometimes been called ocular Christi, from the supposed virtues of its seeds in clearing the sight, which it does by its viscous covering; for when any thing happens to fall into the eye, if one of the seeds is put in at one corner, and the eyelid kept close over it, moving the seed gently along the eye, whatever happens to be there will stick to it, and so be brought out. The virtues of this are supposed to be the same as those of the garden clary, but not quite so powerful.