386 SCROPHULARIACE.E. (fIGWORT FAMILY.) 



15. SYNTHYRIS, Benth. 



Calyx 4-parted. Corolla somewhat bell-shaped, variously 2 - 4-lobed or cleft. 

 Stamens 2, inserted just below the upper sinuses, occasionally with another 

 pair from the other sinuses, exserted ; anther-cells not confluent. Style slen- 

 der ; stigma simple. Capsule flattened, rounded, obtuse or notched, 2-celled 

 (rarely 3-lobed and 3-celled), many-seeded, loculicidal ; the valves cohering be- 

 low with the axis. — Perennial herbs, with the simple stems beset with partly 

 clasping bract-like alternate leaves, the root-leaves rounded and petioled, 

 erenate. Flowers in a raceme or spike, bracteate. (Name from cvv, together, 

 and evp'.s, a little door ; in allusion to the closed valves of the pod.) 



1. S. Houghtoniana, Benth. Hairy; root-leaves ovate, heart-shaped ; 

 spike dense (5-12' long) ; corolla (greenish-white or yellowish) not longer than 

 the calyx, usually 2-3-parted. — Oak-barrens and prairies, Mich, to Minn., 

 south to Ind., 111., and Iowa, 



16. VERONICA, L. Speedwell. 



Calyx 4- (rarely 3 - 5-) parted. Corolla wheel-shaped or salver-shaped, the 

 border 4-parted (rarely .5-parted) ; the lateral lobes or the lower one commonly 

 narrower than the others. Stamens 2, one each side of the upper lobe of the 

 corolla, exserted; anther-cells confluent at the apex. Style entire; stigma 

 single. Capsule flattened, obtuse or notched at the apex, 2-celled, few - many- 

 seeded. — Chiefly herbs ; leaves mostly opposite or whorled ; floAvers blue, flesh- 

 color, or white. (Derivation doubtful ; perliaps the flower of St. Veronica.) 



§ 1. LEPTANDRA. Tall perenmals, with mostly ichorled leaves; racemes 

 terminal, dense, spiked ; bracts very small; tube of the corolla longer than 

 its limb and much longer than the calyx; both sometimes 5-cle/t. 



1. V. Virginica, L. (Cclver's-root. Culver's Physic.) Smooth 

 or rather downy ; stem simple, straight (2 - 6° high) ; leaves whorled in fours 

 to sevens, short-petioled, lanceolate, pointed, finely serrate ; spikes panicled ; 

 corolla small, nearly white; stamens much exserted; capsule oblong-ovate, 

 not notched, opening by 4 teeth at the apex, many-seeded. — Rich woods, Vt. 

 to Minn., E. Kan., and southward. July, Aug. 



§ 2. VERONICA proper. Corolla wheel-shaped ; capsule more or less notched, 



strongly flattened except in n. 2 and 3; low herbs. 



* Perennials, stoloniferous or rooting at base, with opposite usually serrate leaves; 



racemes axillary, mostly opposite ; corolla pale b'ue. 



-t- Capsule turgid, orbicular, many-seeded. 



2. V. Anagallis, L. (Water Speedwell.) Smooth, creeping and 

 rcoting at base, then erect ; leaves sessile, most of them clasping by a heart-shaped 

 base, ovate-lanceolate, acute, serrate or entire (2-3' long) ; pedicels spreading; 

 corolla pale blue with purple stripes; capsule slightly notched. — Brooks and 

 ditches, N. Eng. to N. J., west to the Rocky Mts. June- Aug. (Eu., Asia.) 



3. V. Americana, Schweinitz. (American Brooklime.) Smooth, 

 decumbent at base, then erect (8-1.5' high); leaves mostly petioled, ovate or 

 oblong, serrate, thickish, truncate or slightly heart-shaped at base ; the slender 

 pedicels spreading. — Brooks and ditches, common. June - Aug. 



