FIGWORT TRIBE 3 



leaves at the base either rounded or heart-shaped. This is a very rare Speed- 

 well of chalky pastures. It has been found about Newmarket and Bury, as 

 well as on some limestone cliffs in other parts of the kingdom. It is a common 

 garden flower, and its bright blue blossoms are very ornamental there, 

 during July and August. It is a much finer plant in the garden than when 

 in its wild state ; its dense spikes becoming, under culture, sometimes twelve 

 inches long. Gardeners call it Cat's-tail Speedwell. It varies occasionally 

 with white blossoms. 



Some Avriters consider the word Veronica to be a corruption of Betonica ; 

 others have referred it to a Celtic word, corresponding to the modern Gaelic 

 firineachd, faithfulness, the plant having been an emblem of that virtue. It 

 is, however, with far more reason, believed to have originated in the legend 

 of the Roman Catholic Church, respecting the Saint Veronica, who was the 

 same as Berenice. The word is from the Greek Mera eikon, sacred picture ; 

 the blossoms having been fancied to bear a representation of the countenance 

 of our Saviour. A handkerchief, superstitiously believed to have formerly 

 belonged to this St. Veronica, was long preserved with great veneration at 

 St. Peter's, in Rome, and is said to have been used by our Lord on His way 

 to the crucifixion, and to have the impress of the sacred lineaments. A 

 French Avriter tells us that a number of these " Veroniques, or Holy-faces," 

 Avhich were imitations of the original, were prized by many persons. 



■^ * Bar cm c Si terminal ; tithe of the corolla very short. 



2. Thyme-leaved Speedwell (V. serpyllifdlia). — Leaves egg-shaped, or 

 oval, slightly crenate ; lower leaves smaller and rounder ; raceme long and 

 many-flowered ; capsule inversely kidney-shaped, as long as the style ; stem 

 rooting below, afterwards erect, in one variety of the species prostrate, and 

 with shorter racemes of flowers ; perennial. This is a small and not 

 unfrequent plant on waste lands, by road-sides, or in pastures. It bears 

 several many-flowered spike-like clusters of light blue blossoms, veined with 

 a darker tint. It is a very pi'etty plant, the variety (humifusa) with prostrate 

 stems being especially so. This last grows on the Highland mountains, and 

 has much larger and more beautiful flowers than the ordinary form. 



3. Alpine Speedwell (V. alpina). — Leaves elliptical or egg-shaped, 

 toothed or entire ; lower leaves smaller ; raceme few-flowered, hairy, with 

 spreading, not glandular hairs ; capsule inversely egg-shaped, notched, 

 crowned with the very short style. This beautiful but rare species is found 

 only on the Highland mountains. Its stems are about four inches high, it 

 has large leaves, and its dense raceme of bright Ijlue flowers expands in July 

 and August. 



4. Blue Rock Speedwell {V. saxdfilis). — Leaves elliptical, somewhat 

 serrated, lower leaves smaller ; raceme few-fioAvered, downy, the hairs not 

 glandular ; stem spreading ; capsule egg-shaped, its valves 2-cleft ; perennial. 

 This, too, is a mountain flower, growing, though rarely, on high rocky places 

 in Scotland. Several of the Speedwells flourish at great elevations on most 

 bleak and exposed spots. Nor is the Arctic region without some of this 

 lovely tribe to enliven the landscape. Sir J. D. Hooker, in his "Flora 

 Antarctica," referring to "Lord Auckland's Isles," tells us that among 



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