25 



over. The leaves opposite, ovate, shortly stalked, and hairy. 

 The young flowers are pink, afterwards changing to a purple, 

 striped with a still darker color, with purple stamens, and not 

 above half the size of those of V. chamsedrys. The ripe capsule 

 is also very different, being deeply notched at the top, and when 

 ripe longer than the calyx. It flowers in the spring and summer. 



IVY-LEAVED SPEEDWELL. Veronica hederifolia. 



Plate 1, fig. 6. 



Leaves alternate, all stalked, cordate, lobed. Flowers solitary. 

 Common in fields, on banks, &c. ; flowering in April and 

 throughout the summer. Stem procumbent and hairy, as are 

 also the leaves ; but the hairs of all the parts are very fine, so 

 that the plants will often appear nearly smooth. The calyx is 

 very large each division of it heart-shaped. Flowers very long- 

 stalked, and bent downwards when in fruit. Corolla small, 

 pinkest purple, striped with a darker color ; stamens yellow. 

 Capsule round, swelled out, and smooth, with a very short 

 style at the top. It contains four black, wrinkled, shell-shaped 

 seeds. This plant is called the Mother of Wheat, from the 

 belief that wherever this plant is found wheat may be grown to 

 advantage. 



O.S. Spiked Speedwell, an upright plant of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. 

 Alpine Speedwell, Blue Rock Speedwell, and Flesh-colored Speedwell, 

 are found only on the Scottish mountains. Marsh Speedwell and Water 

 Speedwell grow in damp places. Mountain Speedwell in woods. Field 

 Speedwell, Wall Speedwell, Blunt Fingered Speedwell, and Vernal Speed- 

 well are annual ; the two former common, the other two very rare. 



GIPSY-WORT. LYCOPUS. 



GIPSY-WORT, OR WATER HORE-HOUND. Lycopus Europ&us. 

 Plate I, fig. 7. 



It has its first name because the leaves, when boiled, yield a 

 chesnut brown color, which it is said the gipsies use to stain 

 the skin of the children they steal, that they may appear as 

 dark as their own. It grows commonly in shallow popds arid 

 ditches ; and is directly known by its square stems, small, 

 whitish, whirled flowers, set in the bosom of the upper leaves, 

 which are deeply cut, and as well as the branches opposite. 



