34 Rhodora [February 



Fields, barrens and open woods, mostly common; from Newfound- 

 land and Michigan to North Carolina and Tennessee. Apparently 

 introduced from Eurasia, although usually in seemingly native 

 habitats. 



23. Veronica Beccabunga L. 



Veronica Beccabunga L., Sp. PI. 12. 1753. "Habitat in Europa 

 ad rivulos." Diagnosis quoted from Linn<5, Fl. Suec. 5. no. 11. 

 1745, where it is stated that in Sweden the plant "habitat in fossis, 

 rivulis, scaturiginibus passim," and that it is the "Beccabungae 

 Herba Conserva, Aqua" of the Pharmacopoeas. 



Running brooks, ditches and wet fields, well established in Quebec, 

 also at Rochester, New York and Perth Amboy, New Jersey. In- 

 troduced from Eurasia, where this species is as wide-spread as on 

 this continent is the following near relative. 



24. Veronica americana Schwein. 



Veronica Beccabunga americana Raf., Med. Fl. 2: 109. pi. 9/ f . 

 1830. " Grows from Canada to Virginia and Kentucky, near waters, 

 brooks, &c. " Well described, and contrast given with V. Becca- 

 bunga as understood by Rafinesque. Apparently this plant was 

 independently redescribed under this name by Torrey in Fl. New 

 York 2: 41. 1843, whose type I have seen in Herb. Columbia Uni- 

 versity. 



Veronica americana Schwein.; Benth. in DC. Prod. 10: 468. 



1846. "Veronica americana (Schweinitz! mss.) In 



America boreali a Canada et Carolina usque ad flum. Oregon et in 



ins, Sitcha (v. s.)" Specimen seen in Herb. 



Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, labeled "Bethl." 

 [ = Bethlehem, Pennsylvania], collected by Schweinitz, may be an 

 isotype. Well contrasted with V. Beccabunga L., instancing leaf- 

 form and more erect habit. 



Veronica americana hirsuta Coleman, Cat. Fl. PI. S. Michigan 27, 

 1874. "Southern peninsula of Michigan." Described as "plant 

 quite large, 24 to 30 inches high, very hirsute." I have never seen 

 a pubescent form of this species, and Coleman's specimen, if extant, 

 should be studied. 



Veronica americana crassula Rydb. in Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 

 1 : 353. 1900. " In bogs, at an altitude of 2000-2500 m. Montana: 

 Little Belt Pass, 1896, Flodman, 778 (type)." Type seen in Herb. 

 New York Botanical Garden. This represents the dwarfed alpine 

 state of the species, which may better be considered a forma. 



Veronica oxylobula Greene, Pittonia 6: 113. 1903. "Type speci- 

 mens from Golden City, Colorado, collected by myself in 1871." 

 Supposed to be distinguished by "its entire or subentire foliage and 

 the longer and almost acute capsules," features of variability within 

 this species. 



