Scroph 21 la rin ecc Digitalis. 349 



deeply 5-lobed. Corolla decimate, tubular, irregularly campa- 

 nulate or ventricose, the lower central lobe being longest. 

 Stamens 4, included ; anthers cohering in pairs. Fruit cap- 

 sular, opening in 2 valves. Upwards, of a dozen species have 

 been described, chiefly from the Mediterranean region. The 

 name is from digitate, a finger-stall or thimble, the shape of 

 the corolla. 



1. D. purpurea (fig. 192). Foxglove. This common indi- 

 genous biennial species is the handsomest of the genus, but it 

 is only suitable for large gardens, shrubberies, or parks, where 

 it may be grown in masses in a semi-wild state. Leaves slightly 

 cottony. Flowers in the common variety purple speckled with 

 ocellated spots ; a white and a rosy variety are occasionally 

 seen. 



D. Thdpsi is a perennial species resembling the last, with 

 decurrent leaves and rather smaller purple spotted flowers on 

 distinct peduncles. 



D. ferruginea, D. lutea, D. grandiflbra, and D. ochroleuca 

 have rusty creamy or pale yellow flowers, and are only worthy 

 of a place in large collections. 



19. VERONICA. 



Herbs or shrubs, erect or prostrate in habit, with opposite 

 and alternate or rarely whorled leaves. Flowers in terminal 

 spikes or racemes, rarely solitary and axillary. Calyx 4- or 5- 

 lobed. Corolla rotate or campanulate ; limb unequally 4-lobed, 

 spreading. Stamens 2, exserted. Capsule compressed or turgid, 

 2-valved. Seeds rather large. A very large genus, numbering 

 upwards of 150 species, abounding in the temperate regions 

 of the northern hemisphere and in Southern Australasia, 

 Fifteen species are found in Britain. The etymology of the 

 generic appellation is unexplained. The species are known by 

 the English name of Speedwell. 



1. V. spicata. A perennial with erect flowering stems from 

 1 to 2 feet high, terminated by racemes of bright blue, rose 

 or white flowers. Leaves pubescent, opposite, ovate, oblong, 

 obtuse, sessile or petiolate, serrate or crenate. A native of 

 South Britain, but rare and local. It produces its handsome 

 spikes of flowers freely from June to August. 



2. V. gentianoldes. A pale green perennial about 18 inches 

 high, common in cottage gardens. Leaves opposite, linear, 

 lanceolate, acute, crenate, three-nerved, with a cartilaginous 



