VER ATRUM VERONICA. 



253 



ing dense and elongated clusters 

 arranged in a large, nearly pyramidal 

 panicle. Leaves, large, alternate, ses- 

 sile, broadly - oval, acute, regularly 

 folded, I ft. or more long. F. viride 

 differs from the above only in the 

 colour of its flowers, which are green. 

 Europe, the Caucasus, and Altai Mts., 



in high pastures. Among groups 



of perennials with fine foliage, in 

 deep, rich, and light soil. Division. 



Veratrum nigrum(SZacfc 7.) Allied 

 to the preceding, and useful for like 

 purposes, but not so fine in foliage ; 

 3 ft. high. flowers, in summer ; 

 numerous, of a blackish purple, with 

 6 oblong spreading segments, and 

 arranged in aa almost pyramidal 

 downy panicle. Leaves, oval, broad 

 and large, the upper ones narrower 

 and pointed, all of a dark green, 

 plaited, and narrowed at the base. 

 Central Europe and Siberia, in woods 



on mountains. Similar positions 



and treatment to those given for the 

 preceding. 



Vertascum Chaixii (Nettle-leaved V.) 

 A very handsome perennial, with 

 large pyramids of flowers ; 2 to 5 ft. 

 high. Flowers, in summer ; small, 

 ilat, yellow, with a violet throat, ar- 

 ranged in a large pyramidal panicle 

 with spreading, ascending, slender 

 branches, which bear the flowers in 

 groups distant from each other. Leaves, 

 slightly downy and green above, 

 woolly and greenish- white underneath ; 

 the lower ones lance-shaped, with 

 toothed lobes on the edges ; sides un- 

 equal at the base which is usually in- 

 cised-lyrate ; middle stem-leaves with 

 shorter stalks, oval, rounded at the 

 base ; the upper ones only sessile, not 

 clasping. Eastern Pyrenees. Bor- 

 ders, in groups of the finer perennials, 

 isolation in tufts, and naturalization, 

 in deep free soil. It, unlike most of 

 its cultivated brethren, is a true peren- 

 nial. I have seen a plant like this, 



but much larger, grown in the Paris 

 botanical garden, under the name of 

 F. vernale. Division or seed. 



Verbena venosa ( Veined 7.) A 

 rigid-growing ornamental perennial, 

 10 to 16 in. high. Flowers, in sum- 

 mer ; bluish - violet, arranged in 

 terminal spikes, which are at first 

 umbel-like, and afterwards elongated, 

 usually in threes, the lateral spikes 

 stalked and smaller. Leaves, oblong- 

 wedge-shaped, opposite, nearly clasp- 

 ing, entire, toothed, wrinkled, rough 



above, bristly underneath. Brazil. 



Borders, and as a bedding-plant, in 

 free soil. Division and seed. 



Vernonia noveboracensis (N. Yorfc 

 Vernonia). A very large and vigorous 

 perennial, 5 to 8 ft. high. Flowers, in 

 late summer and autumn, purple, 

 about ^ in. across, in terminal cymose 

 clusters. Leaves, almost sessile, lance- 

 shaped, pointed, finely serrated, with 

 strongly-marked veins on the under 

 side ; stem furrowed, branching above. 



N. America. Naturalization among 



the tallest perennials, in any soil. Di- 

 vision. 



Veronica alpina (Alpine Speedwell). 

 A tufted, smooth, evergreen herb, 

 with stems shortly creeping, not woody 

 as in F. saxatilis, the flowering 

 branches ascending ; from 2 to 5 in. 

 high. Flowers, in early summer ; blue, 

 varying to pale pink, small, borne in 

 short slightly hairy racemes, 4 or 5 

 blooms in each ; calyx hairy ; stamens 

 shorter than the corolla. Leaves, small, 

 opposite, stalkless, elliptic-ovate, ob- 

 tuse, entire or somewhat serrated. 

 Great mountain chains of Europe, 

 Asia, and America, and also on some 



of the higher Scotch mountains. 



The rock-garden, and borders, in free 

 loam. Division, cuttings, or seed. 



Veronica amethystina (Amethyst F.) 

 F. paniculata. F. spuria. A very 

 pretty kind, 1 ft. to 16 in. high. 



