122 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[June 1, 1S66. 



3. Those with stems similar to the last, but having 

 spikes of flowers, growing, as in group 1, from the 

 axils of the leaves. 



Our first section comprises four species, all of 

 which are annuals. Eor the first of these, the Ivy- 

 leaved Speedwell {V. hederifolia) we have only to 

 look in February or March in any cornfield, or on a 

 hedge -bank, and we shall be almost sure to find a soft- 

 looking little plant, with weak trailing stems, rather 

 thick, light-green hairy leaves, and grey or pale 

 blue flowers, which is the very thing we are in 

 search of. The shape of the leaves, similar to that 

 of ivy-leaves, at once distinguishes this species from 

 any other ; and it may be found in blossom during 

 all the earlier months of the year, commencing to 

 flower early in January. As the season advances, 

 however, the stems become very straggling, and the 

 leaves smaller, but their shape and general appear- 

 ance still remain. Our nest example, the Procum- 

 . bent or Green Eield Speedwell {F. acjrestis) is well 

 known to all who have a garden ; for it has a most 

 reprehensible liking for cultivated ground, and, 

 when allowed to remain, spreads so widely, both 

 root and branch, that its extermination is no easy 

 matter. And really its bright little blossom — blue, 

 save the lower lip, which is white — seems to appeal 

 against destruction ; and its perseverance in at- 

 tempting to establish a footing is astonishing. The 

 leaves of this species are of a darker green than the 

 preceding, are more deeply cut, and smaller; the 

 blossoms have been already described, and are 

 frequently entirely white. The next species, the 

 Grey Pield Speedwell (F.polita), is not considered 

 more than a variety of V. acjrestis by Mr. Bentham ; 

 it frequents the same habitats as its predecessor, but 

 its flowers are larger, and entirely blue ; and by this 

 it may readily be distinguished. The last on our 

 list is considered by botanists as a " distinguished 

 foreigner:" however, it seems to like our British 

 soil uncommonly well, and evidently has no intention 

 of leaving us. It is known as Buxbaum's Speedwell 

 {V. Buxbaiimii), and is certainly by far the hand- 

 somest of the procumbent species. It is altogether 

 a stronger plant than its predecessors, and its 

 blossoms are much larger— of a bright light blue, 

 the lower lip paler than the rest : the leaves, too, 

 are of a livelier green, and the plant as a whole is 

 very ornamental. It is very hardy, blooming nearly 

 all through the winter, as well as during the rest of 

 the year, in corn, and especially in clover fields, and 

 on waste ground. It appears to be widely distri- 

 buted ; and, though only observed for the first time 

 in 182G, has emulated the American Waterweed 

 {AiiacharisAhinastriim) in its rapid spread through- 

 out the country. 



Our second group contains seven species, two 

 only of which are common, the remaining five being 

 of unfrequent occurrence. If we would find the 

 Wall, or Eield Speedwell {V, anensis),\ye must leave 



the cornfields which have yielded us our previous 

 examples, and take for inspection some dry wall or 

 dusty roadside, or some barren gravelly bank. 

 Here we shall probably find a small upright plant, 

 with oval leaves, which have rounded teeth, growing 

 in pairs up a stem from two to four iuches high ; 

 the said leaves passing gradually into smaller leaves 

 or bracts, one at the base of^each flower. The pale 

 blue blossoms are very small, and seldom fully ex- 

 pand. The whole plant is often covered with dust, 

 and is insignificant in appearance ; it varies much in 

 size, in favourable situations attaining a height of 

 10 inches, with all the parts large in proportion ; 

 but it is usually a lowly little herb, and except that 

 it seems fond of company, and frequently grows in 

 large patches, it would be even more overlooked 

 than it is at present. It is an annual, and blossoms 

 from April to August. Our other common species, 

 the Thyme-leaved Speedwell (F. serpyUifolia) is very 

 different in appearance. It usually grows to the 

 height of four inches, and has a spike of small 

 whitish flowers, marked with dark blue veins. Its 

 leaves are oval, smooth, and frequently somewhat 

 thick ; the stem roots at its base, and adheres 

 closely to the ground. The Thyme-leaved Speedwell 

 is common enough by roadsides, especially where 

 water has stood : we shall also And it on commons 

 and in waste places. Its blossoms expand from 

 May to September, and sometimes remain even 

 later in the season. The five rare species belonging 

 to this group are : — the Spiked Speedwell (V. 

 spicata), common in gardens, having a long spike of 

 cobalt-blue blossoms, found rarely on limestone cliffs 

 and in chalky pastures in England ; the Rock Speed- 

 well {V. saxatilis) and the Alpine Speedwell (V. 

 aljnna), two bright blue-blossomed beauties of the 

 Scotch mountains ; the small Yernal Speedwell {V. 

 verna), and theThree-fingered Speedwell (V. triphyl- 

 los), the former with light, and the latter with dark, 

 blue blossoms, both confined to sandy fields and 

 heaths in one or two places in England. A sixth 

 species {V. peregrind) is semi-naturalised in some 

 Scotch and Irish localities ; it has white blossoms, 

 tinged with pink. 



Pass we on now to our last group, which contains 

 six species, all of which have perennial roots, and 

 are of frequent occurrence. And first, let us notice 

 the well-known Germander Speedwell (F. Cha/iue- 

 drys), favourite of Ebenezer Elliott, the Corn-law 

 Bhymer, who calls it the 



Loveliest flower of all that grow 

 In flower-loved England. 



Lovely, indeed, it is, growing in large tufts, and 

 decking the hedge-banks with its spikes of bright 

 azure-blue blossoms, delicately marked with small 

 white veins, and bringing into prominence the two 

 white anthers. We need not wonder that it usurps, 

 and with many successfully, the name "Eorget-me- 



