SCROPHULARIACEJE. 264 GERARDIA. 



* * * Flowers axillary, solitary. 



6. V. agre'stis. 



Stem procumbent, diffusely branching ; leaves cordate-ovate, petiolate, 

 deeply serrate, floral ones lanceolate ; peduncles as long as the leaves. A 

 small, pilose plant, 2 — 8 inches long, with a round, 'leafy, hairy stem, branch- 

 ing mostly at the base. The leaves are roundish ovate, shorter than their 

 petioles, the upper alternate. Flowers small, light blue, veined, their stalks 

 recurved in fruit. Segments of the calyx fringed, ovate equal. Seeds con- 

 cave beneath. Flowering from May to September, in cultivated fields, less 

 common than the next species. Ann. JVcckicced. 



7. V. arve'nsis. 



Stem erect or assurgent ; flowers nearly sessile ; leaves cordate-ovate, incisely 

 crenate, the lower ones petioled, upper ones alternate, lanceolate, crenate, 

 sessile. A small, pubescent, pale-green plant, 2 — (j inches high. Stem nearly 

 erect, branching from the base, the leaves assurgent. Floweia on short 

 peduncles, corolla shorter than the calyx, pale blue, beautifully penciled with 

 purple lines. Frequent in dry fields. May. June. Ann. Corn Speedicell. 



8. V. peuegri'na. 



Stem ereci ; flowers soWiTiry , sessWe ; leaves oblong, serrate, rather obtuse, 

 Common in moist, clayey soils. The whole plant is smooth. Stem often 

 branched at the base, 4 — 8 inches high. Radical leaves ovate, on short 

 stalks ; those of the stem narrow, sessile. Flowers small, white or pale blue. 

 Capsule compressed. Introduced. May — Jl. Ann. Purselain Speedicdl. 



16. LEPTA'NDRA. 

 Calyx 5-partcd, segments acuminate 5 corolla tubular, 4- 

 lobed, the lower lobe smaller ; stamens 2, much exserted ; 

 capsule ovate, 2-celled, valves opening at top. 



Gr. XiTfTOi, slender, ctvdQio., stamens; alluding to the filaments and the 

 style which are at length much longer than the tube of the corolla. 



L. VIRGI'NICA. J\rutt. Veronica Virginica. L. 



Leaves verticillate ; stem erect, smooth; spikes aggregated, terminal. A 

 conspicuous plant arising 2 — 5 feet. Stem simple, strai^'ht, smooth, with 

 whorls of lanceolate, acuminate, finely serrate leaves which are subpetiolate 

 and orlaucous beneath, and 4 — (> in a whorl. Flowers numerous, nearly 

 sessile, in long, terminal and verticillate-siibteruiinal spikes. Corolla white, 

 tubular, pubescent inside. Stamens and style twice as long as the corolla. 

 July. Per. Culver's Physic, 



■ 17. GERA'RDIA. 

 Calyx cleft half-way down into 5 lobes or teeth; corolla 

 sul)cainpanul;ite, unequally 5-lobed, lobes mostly rounded ; 

 anthers villose; capsule 2-celled, dehiscent at top. 



In honor of John Gerarde, an English botanist of the 16lh century. Her- 

 baceous, rarely sufFruticose. Lvs. generally opposite. Fls. axillary. 



* Flowers yellow. 

 1. G. QUERCIFO'LIA. p. G. glauca. Eddy, 



Smooth; stem panicled ; leaves petiolafc, pinnatifid, tlie upper ones 

 lanceolate, all paler beneath : flviccrs pedicelltd, axillary, opposite. A very 



