470 SCROPHULARIACE M. 



bracts. The whole plant is downy, and very frequently 

 covered with dust. Fl. April September. Annual. 



fr To this group belong V. spicdta (Spiked Speed- 

 well), found on chalky pastures, about Newmarket and 

 Bury : V. alpina (Alpine Speedwell), a rare species, 

 found only near the summits of the Highland moun- 

 tains, distinguished from V. serpyllifolia by the deeper 

 blue of its flowers, and by its very short style : V. saxdtilis 

 (Blue Bock Speedwell), also a rare mountainous species, 

 with slender, woody stems, large brilliant blue flowers, 

 and egg-shaped capsules : V. fruticulosa (Flesh-coloured 

 Speedwell), found only on two of the Scotch mountains : 

 V. triphyllos, also a rare species, growing in Norfolk and 

 Suffolk, distinguished by its fingered leaves, and dark 

 blue flowers : and V. verna (Vernal Speedwell), another 

 rare species found only in Suffolk ; it approaches V. 

 arvensis in habit, but has pinnatifid leaves. 



* * Clusters axillary. 



3. V. Chamcedrys (Germander Speedwell). Stem with 

 two hairy opposite lines ; leaves sessile, deeply serrated ; 

 clusters very long; capsule shorter than the calyx. 

 Hedge-banks, abundant. A well-known plant, which, 

 under the popular names of Blue Speedwell and Bird's- 

 eye, is a favourite with every one. No one can have 

 walked in the country in Spring without admiring its 

 cheerful bright blue flowers, but few perhaps have 

 remarked 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. It is 

 sometimes, but erroneously, called Forget-me-not. Fl. 

 May, June. Perennial. 



4. V. montdna (Mountain Speedwell). Stem hairy 

 all round ; leaves stalked ; clusters few-flowered ; capsule 

 much longer than the calyx. Woods, common. Ap- 

 proaching the last in habit, but well distinguished by 

 the above characters, and by its smaller, light blue 

 flowers. Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



