24-i Mr Robert Lindsay on [sess, ui. 



illustrations on Plates Y. and YI. (for photographs of which I 

 am indebted to ]\Ir Eichardson), the two forms, marked Nos. 1 

 and la, are very well shown. V. cupressoides in cultivation 

 is an erect growing shrub, attaining a height of from 3 to 4 

 feet, the diameter being about 1 foot. It has very dark green 

 Cupressus-like leaves in the adult condition, these being- 

 arranged in opposite pairs, and so distant from each other as 

 to show the stem. The flowers are dark violet coloured. 

 Wlien weakened, the majority of the leaves become pinnatifid, 

 sometimes either lobed or entire. Illustrations 2 and 2a 

 show the different forms very clearly. 



Veronica lycopodioides is a most curious species. In the 

 adult condition the branches are square, while the leaves are 

 sharp pointed, closely set, and imbricated. A plant which 

 has been grown here for nine years is only now beginning to de- 

 velop adult foliage. The juvenile leaves are of two kinds; the 

 majority are markedly pinnatifid, with acute lobes, while others 

 are entire and subulate. The three forms of leaf are still all 

 to be seen on the same plant, but the two last will in all prob- 

 ability eventually disappear. Cuttings taken from branches 

 having adult leaves and rooted in heat develop, for the most part, 

 pinnatifid leaves with acute lobes, a few being entire, as seen 

 in illustration 3, while 2>a shows a portion of the adult plant. 



If we are correct in supposing that the form of leaf pro- 

 duced by all these weakened plants, or portions of plants, is 

 a reversion to the juvenile condition, seedlings from those 

 species ought to develop similar leaves. I have never seen 

 seedlhigs of any of the above-named species, seeds of these 

 interesting plants being difficult to procure. A short time 

 ago, however, I was fortunate enough to receive from a friend 

 in New Zealand good seeds of a nearly allied species, named 

 Veronica Armfitrovfjii, which liave germinated. The young 

 seedlings show flat pinnatifid leaves, closely resembling 

 those mentioned as having been found on weakened plants 

 of other species. There can be little doubt, therefore, that 

 seedlings of these species would at first produce exactly 

 similar leaves. Illustration 4 is taken from a seedling of 

 Veronica Armstrowjii, while 4(X shows the adult condition of 

 the same taken from a dried specimen. The manner in 

 which these Yeronicas shed their leaves is also interesting. 

 The smaller branches are articulated with the stem, and fall 



