III. VERONICA. 73 



4. Arvensis. We have yet to note a still finer dis- 

 tinction in epithet. ' Agrestis ' will properly mean a 

 flower of the open ground yet not caring whether the 

 piece of earth be cultivated or not, so long as it is under 

 clear sky. But when agri-culture has turned the unfruit- 

 ful acres into c arva beata,' if then the plant thrust it- 

 self between the furrows of the plough, it is properly 

 called ' Arvensis.' 



I don't quite see my way to the same distinction in 

 English, perhaps I may get into the habit, as time goes 

 on, of calling the Arvenses consistently furrow-flowers, 

 and the Agrestes field-flowers. Furrow- veronica is a tire- 

 somely long name, but must do for the present, as the 

 best interpretation of its Latin character, " vulgatissima 

 in cultis et arvis." D. 515. The blossom itself is exquis- 

 itely delicate ; and we may be thankful, both here and 

 in Denmark, for such a lovely ' vulgate.' 



5. Montana. D. 1201. The first really creeping plant 

 we have had to notice. It throws out roots from the re- 

 cumbent stems. Otherwise like agrestis, it has leaves 

 like ground-ivy. Called a wood species in the text 

 ofD. 



6. Persica. An eastern form, but now perfectly natu- 

 ralized here D. 1982 ; S. 973. The flowers very large, 

 and extremely beautiful, but only one springing from 

 each leaf-axil. 



Leaves and stem like Montana ; and also creeping with 

 new roots at intervals. 



