IVY-I.KAVi:n Sl'KKDWELL 



•5' 



them, as with many other cornfield weeds. They i^ive ^ood seed, this 

 beiiio- the conimoiiest species of I 'iro/i/ni. so that the self-polliiiaiion 

 which occurs wlien the flower expands nuist be effective. The aiidu rs 

 open before the flowers open, and their surface, covered with pollen, 

 touches the stitjma. The honey is secreted by a yellow, lleshy disk 

 below the ovary at the base of the tube, and hairs protect it above. If 

 insects visit it they are not more liable to cross- than to .self-pollinate 

 the flowers. 



The Hymenoptera, 

 .liuiirita f^aii'uhx, Ilalic- 

 tiis iiitiiiiiisctihis, II. Icit- 

 tofiiis, H. aZ/u'/'cs, visit ii 

 in the sprin;,; on warm 

 sunny days. 



rhe .seeds are con 

 tained in a capsule which 

 breaks up into several 

 parts, and the .seeds are 

 dispersed around the 

 parent ])lant. 



Ivy-leaved Speedwell 

 is especially a sand plant. 

 and nearly always found 

 on sand soil or gravel. 



I\rotiospora grisca 

 and Sorosphccra vcroiiica- 

 attack the leaves. 



Veronica, Fuchs, is 

 from the Latin vera, true, 

 and the Greek ci/con, pic- 

 ture; and Lonicerus says 



it was called after some king of France, but it was probably namctl 

 from V^eronica of religious legend. The second Latin name, meaning 

 " ivy-leaved ", refers to the shape of the leaves. 



This plant is called Bird's Eye, P)ntherum, Corn Speedwell, 

 Doiherum, Hen-bit, Ivy Chickweed, Morgeline. Mother of Wheat, 

 Winter-weed. 



The petals were said to di.splay in their markings a representation 

 of the kerchief of St. X'^eronica, imprinted with the features of Christ. 

 A legend runs that when Our Lord was on His way to Calvary bear- 

 ing His Cross He passed by the door of Veronica, who, beholding the 



Pliotn, r>r SomcniHe H.isiin,; 



Ivv LIC.VVKU Speedwell (Veronica hcdcrcrfolia, L. ) 



