Mr. J. Ball on a neiv species of Veronica. 47 



VIII. — Description of a new species 0/ Veronica. 

 By John Ball, M.R.I.A. 



Several years a^o 1 gathered upon the steep crags of the 

 Pagna della Croce, one of the highest peaks of the Apuan Apen- 

 nines, specimens of a Veronica which accidentally remained un- 

 examined until the present year. Although resembling in many 

 respects V. aphylla, L., my specimens differ in so many essential 

 particulars, that I am induced to distinguish them by a specific 

 name; and I subjoin a description of the proposed new species, 

 together with that of V. aphylla, from which the diagnosis will 

 more readily be made. 



V. longistyla, nobis. Caule breiissimo, repente, caespitoso, filiformi ; 

 foliis inferioribus minimis, superioribus subrosulatis, omnibus ob- 

 ovato-spathulatis, acutiuscidis, grandiuscule crenato-serratis ; pe- 

 dunculo scapifornii adscendente, vix pollicari, supra in pedicellos, 

 2—4 erectos, bracteis linearibus et capsulis 3-4 longioreSy diviso ; 

 corolla parva, ftlamentis styloque breviori ; capsula matura late 

 obcoi^data, profunde emarginata, calycem sesquilonga, stylo bre- 

 viori, seminibus lenliformibus, albo-hyalinis, glabris. Herba tota 

 pilis brevissimis articulatis, superne glandulosis, adspersa. 



V. aphylla^ L. Caule brevissimo caespitoso ; foliis rosulatis, late 

 obovato-spathulatis, obtusis subintegerrimis ; pedunculo scapiformi 

 erecto, 1-3 pollicari; supra in pedicellos 2-4, bracteis capsidisque 

 vix duplum longiores, diviso ; corollae segmentis latis, filamenta 

 stylumque superantibus ; capsula matura obovato-elliptica, sinu 

 brevissimo emarginata, calyce et stylo duplum longiore ; seminibus 

 lentiformibus, luteis, glabris. Herba tota pihs articulatis, glandu- 

 losis, crebris, obtecta. 



V. longistyla differs at first sight from V. aphylla in its smaller 

 size, more slender habit, and in its less abundant and less glan- 

 dular pubescence ; but the most certain characters must be sought 

 in the completely different shape and much smaller size of the cap- 

 sule, and in the much greater length of the style, which is longer 

 instead of being one-half shorter than the ripe capsule, as in V. 

 aphylla. I have to call attention to the description of the capsule 

 of V. aphylla given by Mr. Bentham in the tenth volume of the 

 ' Prodromus.^ It is there stated that the capsule is obcordate, and 

 that eminent botanist, to whom I have submitted a specimen of 

 V. longistyla, observes, " I do not find so much difference in the 

 form of the capsule ;^^ he however further observes, "I have but one 

 specimen of V. aphylla in good fruit/' I have gathered V. aphylla 

 in fruit in Dauphine, in the cantons of Berne, Glaris, Tessin, and 

 Valais in Switzerland, in the Tyrol, and in several parts of the 

 Carpathians, and with the specimens before me I do not find any 

 difference in the form of the ripe fruit, which is as I have above 



