SCROPHULAUTACE^. 151 



Stem much branched ; branches 3 inches to 1 foot long. Lowest 

 leaves opposite ; those from which flowers are produced alternate; 

 all similar, Ioniser than broad, ^ to J inch long, with the petioles 

 shorter than those of V. hederifolia. Inflorescence as in that 

 species lengthening out into a raceme much exceeding the rest of 

 the branch. Sepals more unequal than in V. hederifolia, the 

 lower pair longer and considerably broader than the upper; in 

 fruit with 3 to 5 prominent ribs, with less elevated anastomosing 

 veins. Corolla from J to ^ inch across (in var. 3, i inch), bright- 

 blue, striped ; the lower lip of the same colour as the others. 

 Capsule of 2 swollen very faintly-keeled lobes, the curvature at 

 the apex of each lobe towards and from the notch equal. Seeds 

 smaller and narrower than in V. hederifolia. Plant greyish-green, 

 more or less pubescent, but with the hairs not nearly so stifl' as in 

 V. hederifolia. 



GreT/ Proctimbent Speedwell. 



German, Glazender Ehrenpreis. 



SPECIES III— VERONICA AGRESTIS. Linn. 

 Plate DCCCCLXXII. 

 Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XX. Tab. MDCC. Fig. 3. 



Stem weak, much branched from the base ; branches pro- 

 cumbent or ascending at the apex. Leaves all shortly stalked, 

 ovate, subcordate or abrupt at the base, serrate-crenate, with 9 to 

 15 small blunt teeth, of which the terminal one is not conspicuously 

 larger than the others. Bracts like the leaves. Mowers racemose. 

 Peduncles as long as or shorter than the leaves. Sepals oblong- 

 oval or ovate-oval, obtuse, not cordate, puberulent, ciliated with 

 gland-tipped hairs, rather indistinctly 3-ribbed and netted-veined 

 in fruit. Capsule of 2 sub - globular compressed faintly - keeled 

 approximate lobes, with branching prominent veins, sub-glabrous, 

 with the exception of short gland-tipped hairs. Style rather short, 

 scarcely projecting beyond the notch of the capsule. Seeds 4 to 5 

 in each cell of the capsule. Plant sparingly pubescent, with short 

 jointed hairs, which are mostly gland-tipped on the stem and 

 pedicels. 



In cultivated ground, hedge-banks, and waste places. Very 

 common, and universally distributed, less common in Ireland. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Annual. Spring to Autumn. 



V. agrestis is certainly closely allied to V. polita, but is 

 almost always a larger plant, with the leaves more distant, often 



