Voi,. III.] 



FIGWORT FAMILY. 



7. Veronica serpyllifolia L. Thyme- 

 leaved Speedwell. (Fig. 3293.) 



I'eronica serpyllifolia L. Sp, PI. 12. 1753. 



Perennial, pubcrulent or glabrous; stems slender, 

 decumbent, branched, the branches ascending or 

 erect, 2'-io' high. Leaves all opposite and petioled, 

 or the uppermost sessile, oblong, oval, or ovate, 

 )i'-]'z' long, crenulate or entire; flowers in short 

 spicate racemes at the end of the stem and branches; 

 pedicels equalling or longer than the calyx, usu- 

 ally shorter than the bractlels; corolla pale blue 

 with darkerstripes,sonielimcswhite, about 2" broad; 

 capsule broader than high, broadly obcordate or 

 cmarginate at the summit, about \" long, about 

 equalling the calyx; seeds flat, numerous. 



In fields and thickets, Labrador to .\l.iska, south to 

 Georgia, Xcw Mexico and California. Also in Europe, 



.\sia and South -Vmerica. 

 Catskills. April-Aug. 



Ascends to 2600 ft. in the 



8. Veronica peregrina 1,. Purslane Speed- 

 well. Neckweed. (Fig. 3294.) 



Veronica peregrina L. Sp. PI. 14. 1753. 



Annual, glabrous, or glandular-puberulent; stem 

 erect or ascending, simple or branched, 3'-i2' high. 

 Leaves oblong, oval, linear or slightly spatulate, 

 3"-io''' long, obtuse or acutish, the lowest opposite, 

 short-petioled, or sessile, broader than the upper and 

 usually denticulate, the upper alternate, sessile, mostly 

 entire, each with a short-pedicelled flower in its axil; 

 flowers nearly white, about i" broad; pedicels much 

 shorter than the calyx; capsule nearly orbicular, ob- 

 cordate, usually a little shorter than the calyx, \"- 

 lyi" high, many-seeded, the seeds flat. 



In moist places, and common as a weed in cultivated 

 soil. Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south to Florida, 

 Mexico and California, Also in Central and South Amer- 

 ica, and distributed as a weed in the Old World. May- 

 Oct. 



9. Veronica arvensis L. Corn or 

 Wall Speedwell. (Fig. 3295.) 



Veronica arvensis L. Sp. PI. 13. 1753. 



Annual, pubescent; stem slender, at first sim- 

 ple and erect, at length much branched and 

 diffuse, 3'-io' long. Lower leaves ovate or 

 oval, opposite, obtuse at both ends, crenate or 

 crenulate, 2"-6" long, the lowest petioled; 

 upper leaves sessile, alternate, ovate or lanceo- 

 late, acute or acutish, commonly entire, each 

 ■with a short pcdicelled minute flower in its 

 axil; pedicels shorter than the calyx; corolla 

 blue, or nearly white, i" broad or less; capsule 

 broadly obovate, obcordate, 1" high. 



In fields, woods and waste places and in culti- 

 vated soil. Nova Scotia to Ontario and Minnesota, 

 south to Florida. Kansas and Texas. Also in Ber- 

 muda. Naturalized from Europe. Native also of 

 Asia. March-Sept. 



