1920 



VERONICA 



3. elliptica, Forst. ( ('. decussAta, Soland.). Remark- 

 able for its wbite fls., which are large for the genus, 

 K-K in. across. Small or tree-like: Ivs. oval or oblong- 

 elliptic: racemes axillary, few-fld. : fls. white or flesh- 

 coloreil. New Zealan<l and antarctic regions. B.M. 

 242. J.H. III. 35:225. -Not advertised in America now. 



4. specidsa, R. Cunn. A half-hardy bushy branching 

 shrub, 3-6 ft. high. Stout and very smooth, the branches 

 angled: Ivs. obovate - oblong, subsessile, thick and 

 smooth, 2-3 in. long: racemes axillary, densely fld.: 

 fls. blue to violet, with rose, red or white varieties: 

 capsule exceeding calyx. Banks of streams. New Zea- 

 land. B.M. 4057. K.H. 1844:60. Andersonii, Lindl. & 

 Paxt. {V. Hendersonii, Hort.), a hybrid of V. salic- 

 ifoUa and speciosa, is a summer bedding plant and also 

 a greenhouse subject. It grows 18 in. high: Ivs. oblong, 

 sessile, entire, thickish: racemes axillary: fls. bluish 

 violet. F.S. 5:058. Fig. 2658. 



Var. imperiaiis, Boncharlat (V. imperi&Us, Hort.), 

 has large, dense spikes of "amaranth-red" or crimson- 

 purple flowers. F.S. 22:2317. The excellent "Veronica 

 Purple Queen" is alleged to be a hybrid of V. Traversii 

 and V. Hendersonii and to have violet-blue fls. with a 

 white center. The handsome plate Gn. 45:966 shows no 

 trace of V. Traversii nor of white center. The plant is 

 close to V. speciosa. In some catalogues V. Hender- 

 sonii and V. subsessilis are said to be synonymous, but 

 this is a gross error. 



5. salicifdlia, Forst. Strong, half-hardy, glabrous 

 shrub with flattened branchlets, approaching a tree 

 in size and habit: Ivs. lanceolate, subsessile, entire, 

 smooth, 2-3 in. long, pointed: racemes axillary, densely 

 fld.: fls. bluish to white, large, pedicelled: capsules 

 large, longer than broad, pointed, exceeding the sepals. 

 New Zealand, where it is a graceful tree 10-15 ft. high. 

 Gn. 26, p. 107; 28, p. 293; 34, p. 349. 



6. macroodrpa, Vahl. Young branches glabrous: Ivs. 

 sessile, lanceolate, entire, acute, smooth: racemes 

 densely fld.: fls. bluish to white: capsule ovate-oblong, 

 thrice exceeding the calyx. With habit and Ivs. of V. 

 salicifolia. Mts., New Zealand. 



2658. Veronica Andersonii (X Yz). No. 4 



7. Biixbaumii, Tenore. Prostrate annual, with elon- 

 gated slender pubescent stems, the lower branching 

 and often rooting: Ivs. ovate, subcordate, coarsely 

 crenate-serrate, pubescent, shortly petioled, % in. long, 

 the lower opposite, the upper alternate and similar: 

 racemes axillary: fls. small, blue, scattering, on long 

 pedicels, of long duration: capsule broader than long, 

 very widely notched, exceeded by the sepals. April- 

 Sept. Fields, middle and S. Europe, Asia and natural- 

 ized in N. Amer. F. 1846, p. 112. 



VERONICA 



8. Syrlaoa, Roem. & Schult. Ascending, diffusely 

 branched pubescent herb, 6-12 in. high: Ivs. ovate or 

 ovate - lanceolate, incised or dentate, smooth ; lower 

 petiolate, upper subsessile, % in. long: raceme termi- 

 nal, slender, 4-6 in. long: fls. blue, with thread-like 

 pedicels Vi in. long: capsule broader than long, notched 

 two-thirds of its length, exceeding the sepals. June. 

 S. W. Asia. R.H. 1897, p. 311. 



9. serpyllifdlia, Linn. (V. alpisfris, Hort.). Thyme- 

 leaved Speedwell. St. Paul's Speedwell. Slender, 

 ascending, nearly smooth plant, growing irregularly in 

 clumps 2—4 ft. high, the base prostrate and rooting: 

 Ivs. ovate or oblong, crenate, M-K in. long, smooth, 

 variable: racemes loose, with conspicuous bracts; fls. 

 pediceled, whitish or pale blue with deeper stripes: 

 capsule wider than long, obtusely notched, exceeding 

 or equal to the sepals. May-July. Roadsides and fields, 

 Asia, Eu., N. Afr., N. and S. Amer. 



10. Virglnica, Linn. (Leptdndra Virglnica, Nutt.). 

 Great Virginian Speedwell. Culver's Root. Erect, 

 simple, somewhat pubescent herb 2-6 ft. tall: Ivs. in 

 whorls of 4-6, lanceolate, 2-4 in. long, smooth above, 

 pubescent below, acutely serrate, short-petioled: ra- 

 cemes terminal, erect, long, dense: fls. many, white or 

 pale blue, short-pediceled: capsules longer than broad, 

 pointed, twice exceeding the calyx. Aug.-Sept. East- 

 ern states. — Free-growing herb. Likes rich soil and 

 much sun. While stiff and coarse, it is bold and stately. 

 Var. Jap6nica. Of similar character but a month 

 earlier. Japan. 



11. alpina, Linn. A slender, delicate plant growing 

 from a creeping stock, branching at the base, becoming 

 ascending or upright, the flower-stems often solitary, 

 2-6 in. high: Ivs. opposite, occasionally alternate, sub- 

 sessile, elliptic or oblong, entire or dentate, about K-1 

 in. long, of varying size, the lowest small, orbicular: ra- 

 ceme short, spiciform, dense: fls. small, blue or violet: 

 capsule M in. long, oblong, longer than broad, hairy, 

 exceeding the calyx. Mts. of Eu., middle and N. Asia 

 and alpine and arctic regions in America. B.M.2975.— 

 Adapted to the rock-garden. Blackens when dried. 



12. gentianoldes, Vahl. Gentian-leaved Speedwell. 

 Erect, slender, tufted species 6-24 in. high, according 

 to soil and position, from creeping roots and leafy stems 

 below broadening above into a spicate raceme: Ivs. obo- 

 vate or oblong, some lanceolate or linear, thickish en- 

 tire or small crenate, smooth, lK-3 in. long; root-lvs. 

 more or less in rosettes; upper Ivs. bract-like, smaller 

 and narrower: raceme elongated, leafy, many -fld., 

 hairy: fls. pale blue, with darker streaks on long pedi- 

 cels: capsule nearly round, slightly notched, exceeding 

 the calyx. Wet alpine fields, S. E. Eu. B.M. 1002. -A 

 hardy species in any soil or location, shade-enduring 

 though not necessarily shade-loving, blooming early. 

 Prop, by division. Forms a mat and makes a good 

 ground cover for bare spots in midsummer. Also a 

 valuable border plant. One of the earliest. Var. idliis 

 variegitis is a dwarf form with variegated Ivs. used in 

 formal bedding. Another variety has longer flower- 

 stems and larger fls. which are light lavender. Var. 

 &Iba has white flowers. 



13. ripens, DC. Ceeepfng Speedwell. Prostrate, 

 slender, compact plant growing in dense masses: Ivs. 

 a-Vi in. long, ovate, slightly crenate, shining green 

 and moss-like: racemes slender, few-fld.: fls. nearly 

 white, with a trace of blue: capsules broader than long, 

 deeply notched, exceeding the sepals. May. Forests of 

 Corsica. Hardy in Mass.— Grows in the sun. Will cover 

 the ground where grass does not grow, forming a sod in 

 a short time. Prefers moist corners but thrives on a 

 moderately dry soil. 



14. inc4na, Linn. ( \'. Candida, Hort.). Hoart Speed- 

 well. Strong, upright or ascending, white-woolly 

 plant 12-18 in. high, with many sterile matted branches 

 and fewer fertile erect branches: Ivs. opposite, acute, 

 lower oblong, upper lanceolate, 1-3 in. long, white-to- 

 mentose: racemes erect, numerous, 3-0 in. long: fls. 

 many, blue, short-pediceled: capsule longer than broad, 

 thick, exceeding the woolly calyx. July-Sept. Fields 

 and mountain regions, N. Asia, and southwestern 

 Eu. — Resembles T. spicata in habit. Has a good 



