100 



FIELD AND WOODLAND PLANTS 



of which is smallest; and only two stamens. At least six species 

 of this genus may be found by waysides, in flower during the spring 

 months. 



One of these— the Thyme-leaved Speedwell ( Veronica serpylli- 

 folia), is common in most waste places. It is a small plant, with a 

 downy, prostrate stem from three to ten inches long. The leaves 

 are broadly elliptical, slightly crenate, blunt, and somewhat 



leathery in nature. 

 The flowers are about 

 a quarter of an inch 

 across, of a Ught blue 

 or lilac colour, striped 

 with dark blue veins ; 

 and appear from May 

 to July. They are 

 arranged in several 

 spike-like, many- 

 flowered racemes. 

 The corolla tube is 

 very short ; the style 

 long and persistent ; 

 and the fruits are 

 inversely-cordate 



The Common 

 Speedwell { F. officin- 

 alis) is a small plant, 

 with hairy, prostrate 

 THE CRosswoRT. stcms from two to 



ten inches in length. 

 It is common in dry places. The leaves are opposite, elliptical, 

 serrate, with short stalks. The pale blue flowers, which are 

 only about a sixth of an inch in diameter, are in many-flowered, 

 axillary, spike-like racemes. The capsules are of the same form as in 

 the last species, but are deeply notched. This species flowers from 

 May to July. 



The Germander Speedwell ( Veronica Chamcedrys) is one of our 

 most beautiful and most abundant spring flowers. It is very 

 common on banks and by roadsides, flowering during May and 

 June. Its stem is weak, decumbent, rooting at the base, often 

 considerably more than a foot in length, and remarkable for the 



