THE AMERICAN BOTAXIS'I 63 



changed to "yellow agalinis", "fern-leaved agalinis" etc, in this 

 showing how uiict minion a common name may become. All 

 the other species of Gcrardia are so universally called hy the 

 generic name that this has virtually become a common name 

 as well, iicrardia niaritiiiui is further distinguished by the 

 names "seaside gerardia" and ".salt marsh gerardia". The 

 wot)lly-leaved Scymcria inacropJiylla is sometimes known as 

 "mullein false foxglove". 



The numerous species of Veronica are reputed to derive 

 their names of "speedwell" from the fact that the flow'ers fall 

 and speed away so soon after opening. It will be remembered 

 that a companion ship to the famous Pilgrim ship, Mayflower, 

 was named Speedwell, and true to its name came to a speedy 

 end. Thus narrowly did the speedw'ells miss canonization 

 among our "naticmal flowers". To judge from the number of 

 C(jmmoii names, English speedwell (J'^cronica chainacdrys), 

 which has escaped to America, is the best known. "Germander 

 speedwell" as we have elsewhere shown, is derived from the 

 specific name, while "God's eye", "angel-eye", "bird's- eye", 

 "cat's-eye", "blue eye" and "eye-bright" refer to the color and 

 brightness of the flowers. "Pia-se vervain" distingui.shed this 

 from certain species of true vervain {Verbena) while "forget- 

 iiie-nol" though quite appropriate is a name that by general 

 consent is bestowed on the species of Myosotis. 



Veronica arvensis is the "corn speedwell" from its haJjit 

 of growing in English corn (wheat) fields, V. Totirnefortii is 

 the "Byzantine speedwell", as well as "bird's-eye" and "cat's- 

 eye" and V. I'crcyrina is the "[)urslane speedwell" and "neck- 

 weed", the latter name alluding to its early use in the treatment 

 of scrofulous swellings on the neck. The "field" or "garden 

 speedwell" is J\ agrctis. This is also known as "germander 

 chickweed" and "winter-weed". Veronica hederaefolia is the 



