46 AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 
a ir Sea RIE (PP ee eI Ne Oe SEE OE isn eee ee ET 
resembling those of rhubarb, and which are the 
largest produced by any wild plant in our 
country. By the end of May, the hyacinth-like 
spikes become tufts of white-plumed fruits, 
which are the seeds crowned with the pap- 
pus. 
This Composite Order is a very attractive 
one, but we must pass on to notice the simple 
but pretty Speedwells. 
For some time the little Field Speedwells, 
Veronica agrestis, and V. arvensis, have been 
in bloom in fields and waste places. Of these 
two species, V. arvensis has its flowers slightly 
spiked, whereas V. agrestis has solitary flowers 
produced between the leaves and the stem, 
axillary ; the flowers of agrestis have the lower 
lip of the corolla whzte; those of arvensis are 
wholly, but pale, d/we. Then we have as an 
abundant and prolific weed,—happy the garden 
that is free from it!—the elegant little Ivy- 
leafed Speedwell, V. hederzfolia, with minute 
flowers, pale. blue with deeper lines. On 
ground not disturbed during winter, you will 
find another species, V. Serpyliifolia, Thyme- 
leafed Speedwell, a small plant with a long 
spiked raceme of whitish flowers blue-veined. 
