GERMANDER SFE^DWl^LL.—Feronlca 



Chamcedrys. 



Class MONANDRiA. Order Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Scrophu- 



LARINE^. — FiGWORT TrIBE. 



This flower is often, by persons little 

 acquainted with plants, called the Forget-me- 

 not. In some places it is called Cat's Eye ; 

 but it is one of the numerous family of the 

 Speedwells. These plants, whether growing 

 in field or garden, may all be known from any 

 others by this peculiarity, that the blossom, 

 which is cleft into four segments, has always 

 the lower segment narrower than the rest. 

 We have no less than eighteen wild kinds. 

 They are all blue or flesh-coloured flowers ; but 

 the Germander is the largest of all the common 

 species. Among our spring flowers it is most 

 conspicuous, its brilUant blue blossoms lying 

 hke gems among the bright May grass. At 

 that time, 



^' The goi-se is yellow on the heath, 

 The banks with Speedwell flowers are gay, 

 The oak is budding, and beneath, 

 The hawthorn soon will wear the wreath, 

 The silver wreath of May." 



TlioLigh an early- blooming flower, yet some of 



