Tas. 6407. 
VERONICA Lonerrorts, var. SUBSESSILIS. 
Native of Japan. 
Nat. Ord. ScropHuLARIAcEx.—Tribe Di@iTaLeR. 
Genus Veronia, Linn. (Benth et Hook.f. Gen. Pl. vol. ii. p. 964). 
Veronica (Pseudolysimachia) longifolia ; caule glabro puberulo, foliis breviter 
petiolatis oppositis v. 3-natim verticillatise basi ovata v. cordata ovato- v. 
oblongo-lanceolatis! acuminatis argute serratis, racemis solitariis v. paucis 
densifloris, pedicellis calyce sepius brevioribus. Linn. Sp, Pl. p.18; Benth. 
in DC. Prod, vol. x, p. 465. 
Van. subsessilis; foliis brevissime petiolatis simpliciter serratis subtus appresse 
puberulis, racemorum rhachi appresse pubescente, sepalis ciliolatis. Miquel, 
Ann. Mus. Lugd, Bat, vol. ii. p. 119. 
This brilliant Speedwell hardly differs, even as a variety, 
from the European V. longifolia, which ranges from Lapland, 
Denmark, and Lombardy, in the west, through middle 
Europe and N. Asia to China, and thence to the Island of 
Saghalien and Japan. The specimens from the latter country 
have been distinguished as a variety by Miquel, on account of 
their broader leaves, very short petioles, and sparce pubes- 
bescence, but I find as broad and as shortly petioled speci- 
mens in Europe; and the leaves of some Japanese ones are 
narrow-lanceolate. It is further very near the common 
continental V. spicata, L., and the 8. Europe and N. Asiatic 
_ V. paniculata, L.; and, as Bentham remarks, is connected 
with these by intermediate states or garden hybrids; so that 
it is difficult to assign the limits of the species in the wide- 
spread and beautiful Pseudolysimachia section of the genus 
to which they all belong. In cultivation the Japanese plant 
is a superb object, with its dense spikes of amethystine blue 
lucid flowers, and deep green leaves. It has been introduced 
by Messrs. Ware, of Tottenham, who sent the specimen here 
figured in August of last year. 
Descr.—An erect branching undershrub, two to four feet 
high. Stem cylindrical; branches ascending, puberulous. 
JANUARY I1sT, 1879. 
