VERONICA VINCA. 



257 



the margins of the mixed border, in 

 light loam. Division and seed. 



Veronica virginica (Great Virginian 

 Speedwell) . Leptandra virginica. A 

 very tall and vigorous kind, 3 to nearly 

 5 ft. high, flowers, in the end of 

 summer; small, white, very nume- 

 rous, with reddish anthers, and ar- 

 ranged in erect spikes, of which the 

 central one is often more than 8 in. 

 in length and is surrounded by a 

 whorl of 3 or 4 smaller ones. Leaves, 

 oval-lanceolate, toothed, stalked, dis- 

 posed in whorls of 4 to 6, sometimes 

 more, at the top of the stem. N. Ame- 

 rica. Naturalization in half -wild 



places among tall perennials. Division. 



Vesicaria utriculata (Bladder-podded 

 V.) A showy rock-plant not unlike 

 the Alpine Wallflower in its flowers, 

 but easily known by its bladder-like 

 seed-pods ; about 1 ft. high. Flowers, 

 from April to June ; very showy, sul- 

 phur-yellow, produced abundantly in 

 terminal racemes; petals entire. Leaves, 

 oblong, entire, smooth ; lower ones 

 ciliated ; stems woody and branching 

 at the base, leafy to the top. Moun- 

 tains in France, Italy, and Southern 



Europe. The rock-garden, on dry 



banks, and in warm borders. Seed. 



Vicia argentea (Silvery Vetch). A 

 handsome perennial of prostrate habit, 

 with silvery and downy leaves ; 8 to 

 12 in. high, flowers, in summer ; 

 whitish, spotted with purple in the 

 lower and veined with violet in the 

 upper part, on axillary many- flowered 

 stalks, all turning the same way. 

 Leaves, of from 4 to 10 pairs of oblong- 

 linear finely-pointed leaflets without 

 tendrils; stems 4 -angled, never climb- 

 ing. Pyrenees. Borders and the 



rock-garden, or naturalized on open 

 banks, in sandy soil. Seed or division. 



Vicia Cracca (Tufted Vetch). A 

 neglected British climbing perennial 

 of the highest merit, with branched 

 tendrils ; 2 to 4 ft. high. Flowers, in 



summer; bluish -purple, nearly \ in. 

 long, abundantly produced in one-sided 

 racemes, on stalks rather longer than 

 the leaves. Leaves, terminated by a 

 tendril, pinnate ; leaflets numerous, 

 oblong or lance-shaped, finely-pointed, 

 alternate or opposite ; stipules linear, 

 entire. Plant clothed with greyish 

 down or smooth. There is a white 

 variety. Europe, and plentiful 



throughout Britain. Borders, 



banks, hedgerows, rootwork, and in 

 any position where a dwarf climbing 

 plant may be desired. It will grow 

 in any soil. Division or seed. 



Villarsia nymphseoides (Common Vil- 

 larsia). An attractive British aquatic, 

 with simple leaves (like those of a 

 Water-lily but smaller) floating on the 

 surface of the water. Flowers, in 

 summer ; yellow, borne singly on 

 stalks as long as those of the leaf. 

 Leaves, heart-shaped or roundish, on 

 long stalks ; stems creeping and root- 

 ing at the base, dichotomous, and as- 

 cending to the surface of the water, 

 with a single leaf at each of the upper 

 branches, and a terminal tuft. Eu- 

 rope and Asia, and many places in 



England and Ireland. Lakes, 



ponds, and quiet bays in streams. 

 Division. 



Vinca herbacea (Herlaceous Peri- 

 winkle). An elegant perennial with 

 creeping and rooting herbaceous stems. 

 Flowers, in spring and early summer ; 

 purplish - blue, solitary, axillary ; 

 corolla salver - shaped, tube longer 

 than the calyx, throat bearded. 

 Leaves, oblong-lance-shaped, opposite, 

 minutely ciliated on the edges while 



young. Hungary. Being much less 



rampant in habit, this is more suitable 

 for the rock-garden than the common 

 kinds. It does best in a sunny posi- 

 tion, in light but good soil, rather dry 

 than moist. Division. 



Vinca major (Larger Periwinkle). 

 A well - known evergreen trailing 



