37^ 



SCROPHULARINi^ 



*** Perennial ; floivers in terminal racemes ; corolla-tube longer 



than broad 



11. V. spicdta (Spiked Speedwell). — Stem erect, branching at 

 the base, about 6 in. high ; leaves thick, nearly sessile, with a 

 wedge-shaped base ; serrate above the middle ; -flowers J in. 

 across, bright blue, in a long, dense spike. — Chalk downs in 

 Cambridgeshire and Suffolk ; rare. — Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



12. V. hybrida (Tall Spiked Speedwell) is larger, reaching 



i8 in., and has stalked leaves^ 

 rounded at the base and serrate 

 throughout. — Limestone cliffs 

 in the west ; rare. — Fl. July, 

 August. Perennial. 



■^*^* Perennial ; leaves all 

 opposite ; -flowers in axil- 

 lary raceines 



13. V. officinalis (Common 

 Speedwell). — A hairy plant 

 with prostrate ascending stems, 

 with short hairs all round ; oval, 

 shortly-stalked, serrate leaves ; 

 and erect, many-flowered, spike- 

 like racemes of lilac or pale 

 blue flowers^ \ in. across. — Dry 

 pastures, heaths, and woods ; 

 common. The leaves are 

 astringent and bitter, and are 

 sometimes made into tea. — Fl. 

 May — August. Perennial. 



14. F. Chamcedrys (German- 

 der Speedwell, Blue Speedwell, 

 Bird's-eye). — A well-known and 

 favourite plant ; stem ascending, 

 with two lines of hairs ; leaves 

 sessile, hairy, deeply serrate ; 



flowers bright blue, ^ in. across, in a long-stalked, slender, loose 

 raceme ; capsule shorter than the calyx. — Hedge-banks ; abundant. 

 No one can have walked in the country in spring without admir- 

 ing its cheerful blossoms, but few perhaps notice the singular pair 

 of hairy lines, which traverse the whole length of the stem, shifting 

 from side to side whenever they arrive at a fresh pair of leaves, 

 and serving to conduct rain-water to the root. It is sometimes 

 erroneously called Forget-me-not. — Fl. April — June. Perennial. 



VERONICA BECCABL'XGA {Brookluiie). 



