AMONG THE WILD FLOWERS. 47 
The stem is rooting below, afterwards erect, 
but only 2 to 5 inches high. | 
Above all, in bright spring days, we welcome 
the appearance of the Germander Speedwell, 
V, Chamedrys, with its bright blue-eyed 
flowers, the brightness being increased by the 
snow-white pollen of the Anthers. We have 
17 species of the genus Veronica, several more 
of which will be described as the season ad- 
vances. Some are rare. I once had the good 
fortune in North Wales accidentally to come 
upon a large bed of V. Spzcata, with its hand- 
some tall spikes of blue; and several years 
afterwards found the identical spot designated 
by Sir W. Hooker in his Flora published some 
40 years ago. This last species more nearly 
resembles the foreign species met with in gar- 
dens, which are well worth attention. 
This genus belongs to Linn. Cl, Diandria, 
its flowers having 2 stamens; and it will 
perhaps surprise you to learn that it is in the 
same Nat. Ord., SCROPHULARIACEA, as the little 
Ivy-leaved Toad-flax, Lzxaria cymbalaria, 
which creeps and dangles on walls, clothing 
them most months in the year with its small 
ivy-shaped leaves, and producing many small 
