198 



SCR0PHULARINEJ3. [Veronica. 



Near Grey Abbey ; Mr. Temple ton. Near Bantry ; Mr. J. 

 Drummond. Fl. June, July. %.— Smaller than the last. Vesi- 

 cles mixed with the leaves, which are glabrous at the margin. Flowers 

 very pale yellow and small. Spur scarcely any. Lower lip almost 

 plane ; palate scarcely closing the mouth, not projecting beyond the lip. 

 " The British species of this genus are all aquatics ; and the roots, 

 stems, and even leaves are furnished with numerous membranaceous, 

 reticulated vesicles, which according to Hayne, are filled with water, 

 till it is necessary the plant should rise to the surface, and expand its 

 blossoms above the fluid. The vesicles are then found to contain air 

 only, by aid of which the plant floats : this air again in the autumn 

 gives place to water, and the plant descends to ripen its seeds at the 

 bottom of the water. Aquatic insects are often seen in these bladders." 

 Hooker. 



Ord. 55. SCROPHULARINE.E. Juss. Figwort Family. 



Calyx divided, persistent, inferior. Corolla monopetalous, 

 hypogynous, usually irregular, deciduous, with an imbricated 

 aestivation. Stamens 2, or 4, didynamous, very seldom equal. 

 Ovarium superior, 2-celled, many-seeded. Style 1. Stigma 

 2-lobed. Fruit capsular, very seldom succulent, with from 2 to 

 4 valves, which are either entire or bifid ; the dissepiment either 

 double, arising from the incurved margins of the valves, or 

 simple, and, in that case, either parallel with, or opposite to, the 

 valves. Placentas central, either adhering to the dissepiment 

 or separating from it. Seeds indefinite. Embryo included 

 ■within fleshy albumen ; radicle turned towards the hilum. — 

 Herbaceous plants, seldom shrubs, with opposite leaves. Inflo- 

 rescence very variable. 



Generally acrid bitter plants, frequently employed as purga- 

 tives or emetics. 



1. Veronica. Linn. Speedwell. 



Calyx 4 or 5-parted. Corolla rotate ; the limb 4-parted, un- 

 equal, with entire lobes. Capside either separable in two, 

 or bearing the septa in the middle of the valves. — Name of 

 doubtful origin. Diandria. Monogynia. 



%. Spihes or racemes terminal. Roots perennial. 



1. V. scrpyllifolia, Linn. Thyme-leaved Speedivell. Raceme 

 somewhat spiked, many-flowered ; leaves broadly ovate, or el- 

 liptical, very obtuse, nearly entire, glabrous. Br. Fl. I. p. 4. 

 E. FL v.i.p. 20. E. Bot. t. 1075. 



Grassy pastures and moist shady places, abundant. Fl. Slay — July. 

 %.— Plant of a pale shining green, a little succulent ; smooth in wet 

 situations ; in dry ones all over hairy. Leaves on short foot-stalks. 



