COMMON SPEEDWELL 



afield. Having once become acquainted with the 

 genus, one will always recognize its members though 

 one may find it difficult to name the exact species. 

 All carry the family mark, tiny 

 flowers, each a little disk cut 

 into four lobes, the lowest lobe 

 the smallest, and two flaring 

 stamens. 



Of the twelve species appear- 

 ing in our botanies ten are in- 

 disputably citizens of the world, 

 growing in America, Europe, 

 and Asia. They are spring and 

 summer bloomers. 



The entire group to which 

 this species belongs are called 

 the Flowers of St. Veronica, 

 through some fancied resem- 

 blance of the marks on the 

 corolla to the human features, 

 which tradition says were im- 

 printed upon her handkerchief when the saint wiped 

 the face of Christ as he was bearing the cross. 



Speedwell is an old word used in bidding good-by 

 to a friend who is going on a journey. Its meaning is 

 the same as that of farewell. It names this tiny, 

 elusive blossom because the pretty corolla drops so 

 soon after it unfolds that unless one takes leave of it 

 quickly it vanishes before one has a chance to do so. 



Common Speedwell. Verdnica 

 officinalis 



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