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A TEXTBOOK OF THEORETICAL BOTANY 



and their arrangement in the inflorescence. Those species in which the 

 flowers are grouped in a sohd spike, as for example, V.spicata, are probably 

 visited mainly by bees and Hawk Moths. Those, like V. chaniaedrys, in 

 which the flowers are larger and open singly are more readily sought by 

 flies. In all cases the structure of the flower is very similar, although there 

 appears to be no uniformity as regards the order of the development in the 

 parts of the flower. Some are protandrous, others protogynous or both 

 types may be found, not only in different plants of the same species, but 

 even among the flowers of a single inflorescence. 



Fic. 1257. — Veronica chamaedrys. A, Flowering shoot. B, Front view of flower with the two 

 divergent stamens. C, The same, later state with stamens drawn forward. D, Longi- 

 tudinal section of flower. E, Flower after shedding of corolla with stamens. 



The flowers of Veronica chamaedrys may be cited as an example of this 

 class (Fig. 1257). This little Speedwell is common in hedgebanks all over 

 Britain and its bright blue flowers make it very attractive and readily notice- 

 able. The calyx is small and encloses the joined bases of four unequal 

 petals. The posterior petal is double and it and the two lateral ones are 

 large, while the anterior one is much narrower. The colour is not evenly 

 distributed on the petals, which are bright blue at the margin shading almost 

 to white in the centre and each petal is marked by branching lines of deeper 

 blue. There are only two stamens, which have long filaments and rounded 

 anthers and diverge widely across the flower. The ovary is superior and is 

 prolonged into a long, slender style with a small stigma which stands over 

 the anterior petal. Nectar is secreted at the base of the corolla tube and is 

 protected by hairs. The corolla is rather flat compared with other species 

 of the genus, but the two stamens stand out on either side of the flower 



