330 COMMON WEEDS 



at the base being much larger than those on the upper 

 part of the leaves. 



Speedwells. Belonging also to this order are Water 

 Speedwell (Veronica Anagallis L.) and Brooklime (var. 

 Beccabunga L.), two weeds frequently found in ditches 

 and watery places. The former has stout, erect, 

 smooth stems, which are succulent and hollow, and 

 i to 2 feet high ; below are creeping stolons. The 

 leaves are lanceolate-serrate, sessile, and partly clasp- 

 ing the stem. The flowers have a pale lilac corolla, 

 and are in long racemes. 



Brooklime has procumbent stems, which take root at 

 the joints, and stalked ovate leaves. The flowers are 

 smaller than those of the previous species, and are 

 sometimes bright blue or pink. 



LABIATE 



Belonging to this order are the Mints, several 

 species of which are abundant in wet places by rivers 

 and ponds. They have subterranean creeping rhi- 

 zomes, and spread very rapidly, often tending to block 

 up ditches and prevent free movement of water. 



Capitate Mint (Mentha aqualica L.) is perhaps the 

 commonest of such species. It has stems 12 to 18 

 inches high, with stalked ovate or cordate woolly leaves, 

 and somewhat dense spikes of lilac labiate flowers. 



Skull-cap (Scutellaria galericulala L.) is another Labiate 

 common on the banks of streams and in ditches. It 

 grows from 6 to 12 inches high, has oblong-lanceolate 

 leaves with serrated or crenated margins, and blue 

 labiate flowers two-thirds of an inch long, placed singly 

 in the axils of the leaves on opposite sides of the stems. 



Marsh Woundwort (Stachys palnstris L.) is very 

 common in similar situations to the last species. It 



