SPEEDWELL. 217 



There is an Alpine Speedwell (V. alpina), with paler blue 

 flowers and glaucous leaves, but I have not met with it. 



Only one of the Speedwells with terminal clusters is now 

 wanting. The Smooth . Speedwell (V. serpyllifolia), raises its 

 humble clusters of little grey flowers, interspersed with ovate 

 shiny leaves, in pastures everywhere. Those species mentioned 

 already bloom in July and August ; this, their humble relative, 

 flowers a month earlier. 



The Brooklime (V. beccabunga), is a water Speedwell, grow- 

 ing in ditches. Its clusters are lateral that is, they spring 

 from the sides of the stem. The flowers are very small, but 

 of a very dark brilliant blue, and the clusters are freely be- 

 stowed on every stem. The leaves are ovate and shiny, and 

 the whole plant is thick arid succulent. 



The Water Speedwell (V. anagallis), has long acute leaves 

 and longer clusters. The flowers are larger, and generally 

 of a lilac colour, though they vary to blue and white. It 

 grows by running streams. Both these species are common 

 in Yorkshire and elsewhere. 



We found the Narrow-leaved Speedwell (V. scutellata), first 

 in a bog on Grinton Moor, in Swaledale. It is a delicately- 

 formed graceful plant, contrasting strangely with the strong 

 growth of the two other water species. The leaves are grass- 

 shaped, and tinged with crimson ; the stem weak, and the two or 

 three clusters sparingly adorned with pale lilac-veined flowers 

 on separate footstalks, placed at right angles with one another. 



The common Speedwell (V. officinalis), is a pretty compact 

 plant with rough, ovate, serrated leaves. The bright lilac 

 flowers are arranged in spikes which grow from the axils of 

 the leaves. It flowers in May, and is common in hilly pastures 

 and hedgerows. The leaves are sometimes made into tea, and 

 the French caU this plant " The de 1'Europe." 

 /* The Germander Speedwell (V. chamoedrys), is the species 

 most familiarly known. Its lateral spikes of bright blue flowers 

 are very attractive in spring, and a plot of this plant in full 



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