SCROPHULARIACE^. 223 



is the only attractive feature about the Httle plant, which, along 

 with its neat compact habit, renders it useful for edging purposes, 

 for clothing rockwork, or introducing in borders wherever a 

 patch of dwarf hoary foliage is wanted. 



V. gentianoides {Geiitian-kavcd Speedwell). — This is a hand- 

 some but not a lasting species. The stems are simple, about 

 t8 inches or 2 feet high, terminating in a compact raceme, 

 of light-blue flowers, beautifully striated with darker blue and 

 sometimes red. The leaves are mostly radical, oblong or 

 ovate, bright green and shining, and slightly toothed. The 

 flowers appear in early summer, lasting only a few weeks. Na- 

 tive of the Levant. There is a very good variegated form, 

 perhaps altogether more ornamental than the green, from which 

 the flower-stems should be cut as soon as they appear, in order 

 to foster the production of leaves. 



V. longifolia {Long-leaved Spcediuclt). — The normal condition 

 of this species is only fit for naturalising in half-kept places. It 

 is a tall, leggy plant, with weak downy stems, reaching the 

 height of 3 feet or more in rich soil. The leaves are in whorls 

 of three or four together, lance-shaped, and much attenuated at 

 the point, and much and sharply toothed. The flowers blue, 

 in close terminal spikes or racemes. This form is not worth 

 growing but for the purpose already alluded to ; but there is 

 a neat and handsome variety named incaniata^ with fine reddish 

 pink flowers, which continue to open for two or three months, 

 from July onwards. It grows about 18 inches or 2 feet high, 

 branching freely at the top of the stems, and thus keeping up 

 a long succession of its pretty flowers. 



V. spicata {Spiked Speedwell). — This species grows about 

 1 foot or 18 inches high, with erect, stout, hard, and slightly- 

 hairy stems. The leaves are oblong or lance-shaped, those 

 below on stalks widening into the limb of the leaf, those 

 above stalkless. The flowers are in dense spikes, the indivi- 

 dual flowers small but deep blue, appearing in summer and 

 lasting till late in autumn. This, along with the variety iiicar- 

 nata of the last species, are two of the best of the taller Vero- 

 7iicas for border decoration. Of this species there are varieties 

 as regards the colour of the flowers, but it is in different shades 

 of blue that the variation results mainly ; there are, however, 

 pretty white and pink varieties, but not so effective and lasting 

 as the one described. There is also a form with variegated 

 leaves and the blue flowers, but the variegation is not decided. 



Wulfenia carinthiaca {Ca7'inthian W.) — This is a lovely and 

 interesting alpine plant, usually kept in pots in botanic gardens 

 or such private collections as it may be found in. It is reputed 



