WILD, OR NATIVE FLOWERS. 41 



the outer coat I would not make use of. The fruit is ripe in August, 

 but should be gathered, when the first yellow spots on the outer coat 

 indicate ripeness, and laid in a sunny window for a few days. 



The medicinal value of the root of this remarkable plant is now so 

 well established that it has superseded the use of Calomel in complaints 

 of the liver with most medical practitioners in this country, but so 

 powerful are its properties that it should never be used by unskilful 

 persons. Ignorant persons have been poisoned by mistaking the leaves 

 for those of the Marsh Marigold (^ C«///;« palustris) and using them as a 

 pot herb. A case of this kind occurred some years ago, whereby several 

 persons were poisoned. At that time there was no attempt made by 

 the backwoods settlers to cultivate vegetables, and they made use of 

 many of the wild herbs with very little knowledge of their sanative or 

 injurious qualities. 



American Brooklime — Veronica Americana (Schw.) 



" Flowers spring up and die ungathered." — Bryant 



In the language of flowers the blossoms of the Veronica or 

 Speedwell are said to mean undying love, or constancy, but the 

 blossoms of the Speedwell are fugacious, falling quickly, and therefore, 

 one would say, not a good emblem of the endurance of love or 

 friendship. 



Sweet simple flowers are the wild Veronicas, chiefly inhabiting 

 damp overflowed ground, the borders of weedy ponds and brooks, 

 whence the names of Brooklime and Marsh Speedwell, Water 

 Speedwell, and the like. Some of the species are indeed found mostly 

 growing on dry hills and grassy banks, cheering the eye of the passing 

 traveller by their slender spikes of azure flowers. This species is often 

 known by the pretty name of Forget-me-not, though it is not the true 

 " Forget-me-not/' which is Myosotis palustris, also with the rest of its 

 family called " Scorpion-grass" ; from the small buds, before expansion, 

 having the petals twisted and forming a small coil at the tips of the 

 branches. The American Brooklime is one of the prettiest of the 

 native Veronicas, and may easily be recognized by its branching spikes 

 of blue flowers, and veiny, partially heart-shaped leaves. It is but little 

 that we have to say of our pretty native wildling, for its delicacy 

 and harmless qualities are all that require notice about it. The 

 traveller passes it by with scarcely a commendatory glance ; its fleeting 

 pale blue, scentless blossoms, which fall at a touch, scarcely attract the 

 little children when gathering flowers by the wayside brooks. It 



