Juxe 1, 1S66.] 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



123 



not," for none who had once noticed could ever 

 forget so beautiful a flower. In Essex, as in many 

 other counties, it is called " Bird's-eye " and " Cat's- 

 eye," and it is evidently the "Eyebright" of Words- 

 worth — 



The trembling Eyebright show'd her sapphire-blue. 



If description be needed of this common and well- 

 known Speedwell, we may begin by remarking the 

 sessile — almost stemless — iucised leaves, which grow 

 in pairs up the stem. And here, be it observed, 

 that the alternate pairs point in a different direction 

 to those between them ; i. e. if the first pair on the 

 stem points one leaf north, the other south, the 

 second pair will point one leaf east, the other west ; 

 and so on. Again, we shall remark upon the stem 

 two rows of hairs, which change sides with each 

 pair of leaves. These peculiarities, together with 

 the many-flotcered spikes of bright blue blossoms, 

 will serve to distinguish it from our next species^ 

 the Wood or Mountain Speedwell {V. montana'), to 

 which some have considered it very closely related. 

 The resemblance between the two is, however, 

 but a superficial one ; for, in the first place, 

 the Wood Speedwell loves damp, shady places, 

 whereas the Germander delights in the open 

 hedge-bank or the grassy field. Let no one 

 imagine from its name that V, montana has any 

 particular liking for mountainous districts, for such 

 is not the case. In this species, we shall note the 

 pale soft green of the leaves (their under side being 

 frequently of a brownish hue), and their long hairy 

 footstalks, so different to the almost imperceptible 

 ones of V. Chamcedrys. Our Wood Speedwell, too, 

 has fewer blossoms than its predecessor, and these 

 are pale blue, or purplish. Both are in perfection 

 during the month of May, but V. montana requires 

 to be searched for more diligently than V. Chamcedrys. 

 The next species is the Common, or Officinal Speed- 

 well {V. officinalis), and we shall find it in perfection 

 on dry commons, though it is also frequently to be 

 seen in the woods. It grows usually hi dense tufts, 

 and its stems, which root at the base, creep closely 

 along the ground for two or three inches : they are 

 very frequently somewhat woody. The leaves are 

 usually smaller than in the two preceding species, 

 and are egg-shaped, on short stalks ; the spike, or 

 raceme, of blossoms is long and many-flowered, and 

 the flowers, which expand from May until August, 

 are paler in hue and smaller than those of V. Cha- 

 mcedrys. "Speedwell tea," made from the leaves 

 of this plant, was formerly much esteemed, and the 

 names of "Honour and Praise," and "Paul's 

 Betony," were given to this species. 



Now, having noticed at length the Speedwells of 

 dry grounds, of the corn-field, the hedge-bank, 

 the heath, the wall, and the wood, let us look 

 for our three last examples in very different 

 situations— by ditches and streams, and in bogs. 



The Brooklime {V. Beccabungd), a pretty plant 

 with an ugly name, may be found in, or by the 

 side of, almost every small stream or ditch. It 

 is a stout species, with smooth thick procumbent 

 stems, which root at their base ; the leaves, which 

 grow in pairs, have short stalks ; they are roundish 

 or egg-shaped, serrate, glossy, and succuleut, of a 

 "lively green," as Gerarde would say, with very 

 distinct whitish veins, and are sometimes eaten 

 as a salad, resembling in taste a mild water- 

 cress. The flowers, which expand from May to 

 August, are small, but of a very bright blue, and are 

 occasionally called " Forget-me-nots." If we would 

 find the Water Speedwell (V. Anagallis), we must 

 go to the side of a pond, or to the muddy margin of 

 a river, in June or August, where we shall see a 

 tall upright plant, the blossoms of which at once 

 tell us that it belongs to the genus Veronica? 1 Yery 

 different is it to any of its allies ; the stem, 

 taller than that of any other species, is usually a 

 foot, or even two, in height ; thick, smooth, and 

 hollow. The leaves are smooth, sessile, sitting close 

 to the main stem, stalkless and lance-shaped, often 

 two inches long, and the blossoms are usually pale 

 blue or pink, delicately marked with darker lines ; 

 they are smaller than those of the preceding. The 

 Marsh or Bog Speedwell (V. scutellala) resembles 

 V. Anagallis in the shape of its leaves ; but they are 

 smaller and narrower, and frequently of a brownish 

 hue. This species affects bogs and damp meadows, 

 and is less common than its predecessor. It is a 

 ■weak, straggling plant, with pale blue or flesh- 

 coloured flowers, a little larger, though fewer, than 

 those of V. Anagallis, and, like them, marked with 

 darker stripes. 



One word in conclusion to those who wish to 

 preserve dried specimens of the Speedwells. Be 

 prepared for disappointment. Do not complain if 

 each species (except, perhaps, V. spicata) assumes, 

 when dried, an uniformly dark-brown hue : rather 

 be thankful that they are not altogether black j and 

 if the blossoms of some (as V. Chamcedrys) become 

 only white, rejoice with all your heart. Do not think 

 that care will prevent these results ; for the effects 

 of "care" in this instance are usually decidedly 

 " black." But slip a spray of a Speedwell into your 

 pocket-book ; think no more about it for .two or 

 three days; and then, if you look at it, you may 

 find, as I have found with V. Buxbaumii, that the 

 colour has remained, and will remain, at any rate 

 for a short time. Should any one, however, more 

 fortuuate than myself, have found a really satis- 

 factory way of drying Speedwells, let me beg that 

 he'will enlighten me, and others who may be simi- 

 larly ignorant, through the pages of Science 

 Gossip. B. 



* Hoffman says, this name was derived from the Greek, 

 (pcpoviKriv,— "to bring victory." 



