Digitalis.-] LVI. SCROPHULARINE2E. 388 



flowers, each 1 inch long. Four of the calyx-segments broad and 

 leafy, the fifth upper one much narrower and more pointed. Corolla 

 beautifully spotted inside, with 4 short lobes, the lowest about twice 

 the length of the others and hairy inside. 



On dry, hilly wastes, and roadsides, in many parts of western and 

 central Europe, extending northwards into Scandinavia, but almost 

 unknown in limestone districts. Abundant in Britain. Fl. spring and 

 summer. 



IX. VERONICA. SPEEDWELL. 



Herbs (or shrubs in a few exotic species), with opposite stem-leaves, 

 and small flowers, usually blue or white, sometimes arranged in spikes 

 or racemes, or in the axils of alternate floral leaves. Calyx 4- or 5- 

 cleft. Corolla with a very short tube, the limb rotate, deeply 4-cleft, 

 the lower segment the narrowest. Stamens 2. Capsule more or less 

 flattened laterally (at right angles to the partition), and opening round 

 the edges in 2 valves. Seeds few. 



A numerous genus in the northern hemisphere, with a few species 

 spreading into the tropics and far into the southern hemisphere, 

 whilst a few are peculiar to Australia, and very many to New Zealand, 

 where the genus forms a dominant feature throughout the island. 

 Among the latter the V. speciosa, salicifolia, Lindleyana, and other 

 shrubby or half-shrubby ones, are much cultivated in our gardens. 

 Several species occasionally have two forms of flowers, one large 

 and blue, the other smaller and pinkish. 



Perennials, with the flowers in leafless spikes or racemes. 

 Spikes or racemes terminal. 



Stem erect, with a long dense, terminal spike of flowers . 1. V. spicata. 

 Stems diffuse or very short. Racemes loose, few-flowered. 

 Stem shrubby at the buae .... . 2. V. saxatiis. 



Stems herbaceous. 

 Stem erect or scarcely creeping at the base, 2 or 3 inches 



high. Flowers very few, in a short spike or head . 3. V. alpina. 

 Stem creeping, and rooting at the base. Flowers in 



loose, often leafy spikes 4. V. ierpyllifolia. 



Racemes axillary, 

 Plant glabrous. 

 Leaves linear or lanceolate. Stem diffuse. Racemes few 



and slender. Capsule very flat, broader than long . 8. V. scutellata. 

 Leaves lanceolate or oblong. Stems erect Racemes nume- 

 rous. Capsule as long as or longer than broad . . 6. V. anagallis. 

 Leaves oblong or ovate, rather thick and obtuse. Stem 



diffuse . 7. V. Beccabunga. 



Plant more or less hairy. 



Leaves much narrowed at the base. Flowers sessile or 



almost sessile 5. V. officinalis. 



Leaves ovate, broad or cordate at the base. Flowers 



rather large and pedicellate. 



Stem hairy all round. Capsule broadest in the middle . 9. V. montana. 

 Stem with 2 opposite lines of long hairs. Capsule 



broadest towards the top 10. V. chamasdry$. 



Annuals. Flowers all, or at least the lower ones, solitary in the 



axils of the leaves. 

 Upper flowers forming a raceme. The upper leaves reduced to 



bracts. 

 Plant glabrous, creeping, and rooting at the base. Seeds 



ovate . 4. V. 



