IVY-LEAVED SPEEDWELL 



them, as with many other cornfield weeds. They give good seed, this 

 being the commonest species of Veronica, so that the self-pollination 

 which occurs when the flower expands must be effective. The anthers 

 open before the flowers open, and their surface, covered with pollen, 

 touches the stigma. The honey is secreted by a yellow, fleshy disk 

 below the ovary at the base of the tube, and hairs protect it above. If 

 insects visit it they are not more liable to cross- than to self-pollinate 

 the flowers. 



The Hymenoptera, 

 Andrena parvula, Halic- 

 tus nitidinsculus, H. leu- 

 copus, H. albipes, visit it 

 in the spring on warm 

 sunny days. 



The seeds are con- 

 tained in a capsule which 

 breaks up into several 

 parts, and the seeds are 

 dispersed around the 

 parent plant. 



Ivy-leaved Speedwell 

 is especially a sand plant, 

 and nearly always found 

 on sand soil or gravel. 



Peronospora grisea 

 and Sorosphtera veronica 

 attack the leaves. 



Veronica, Fuchs, is 

 from the Latin vera, true, 

 and the Greek eikon, pic- 

 ture; and Lonicerus says 



it was called after some king of France, but it was probably named 

 from Veronica of religious legend. The second Latin name, meaning 

 " ivy-leaved ", refers to the shape of the leaves. 



This plant is called Bird's Eye, Botherum, Corn Speedwell, 

 Dotherum, Hen-bit, Ivy Chickweed, Morgeline, Mother of Wheat, 

 Winter-weed. 



The petals were said to display in their markings a representation 

 of the kerchief of St. Veronica, imprinted with the features of Christ. 

 A legend runs that when Our Lord was on His way to Calvary bear- 

 ing His Cross He passed by the door of Veronica, who, beholding the 



Photo. Dr. Somerville Hastings 



IVY-LEAVED SPEEDWELL (Veronica hedercefolia, L.) 



