e VKROXICA, [class tl. ORDER i'. 



Deservedly esteemed as an ornament to the flower-garden ; and 

 patches of its rich l>hie flowers, contrasted with the bright green leaves, 

 are higlily decorative to artificial rockery, -Sec. 



** Racemes axillari/. (Root peyennUd.) 



6. V. A7iaf/ariis, {Fig. II.) Water S]wechreU. Racemes arising from 

 the base of the upper leaves (axillar)/), leaves opposite, lanceolate, 

 serrated, stem erect. 



English Botany, t. 781. — English Flora, vol. i, p. 21. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 188. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 6. 



Root fibrous. Stem erect, succulent, smooth, from six inches to two 

 feet high. Leaves tapering towards the end, without footstalks, various 

 in width. Racemes lateral, slender, many flowered. Floiver-stalks 

 erect. Calyx of four equal ovate lanceolate segments, with three veins 

 arising from the base of each, the centre one largest. Flowers light 

 blue or flesh-coloured. Caiisule nearly round, slightly notched, valves 

 closely reticulated. Seed small and numerous. Style half the length 

 of the capsule. The whole plant varying extremely in size, depending 

 upon the situation in which it has grown : in the fens about Lincoln it 

 grows two feet high, the lower part of the stem and axils of the leaves 

 thickly clothed with close down. Racemes branched, and, as well 

 as the pedicles, scattered with short pubescence. 



Habitat. — Ditches and muddy places ; not uncommon. Less fre- 

 quent in Scotland than in England. 



Perennial ; flowering in July and August. 



7. V. Beccabun'ya, (Fig. 12.) Brooklime. Racemes ai'ising from the 

 base of the opposite leaves, leaves- oval, blunt, slightly serrated, 

 smooth, stem procumbent taking root at the joints. 



English Botany, t. 655. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 20. — Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 188. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 6. 



Stem creeping freely, taking root at the joints, when grown in water, 

 whole plant very succulent, and bent in various forms. Leaves oppo- 

 site with short footstalks, oval, serrated and spreading. Racemes long 

 of numerous bright blue floicers. Flmver-stalks erect. Calyx of four 

 ovate acute equal segments, with three or five veins. Capsule roundish, 

 tumid, scarcely reticulated. Seed small and numerous. Style about 

 the length of the capsule. 



Habitat. — Rivulets and ditches; very common. 



Perennial ; in flower during the summer months. 



Brooklime was formerly greatly esteemed in the cure of numerous 

 diseases, particularly those of the skin, and had great reputation in the 

 healing of wounds and ulcers, but it is now entirely neglected ; if any 

 benefit is to be obtained from its use, it must be taken in large quanti- 

 ties, and as a common article of food ; it is frequently gathered and 

 eaten with water cresses (Nasturtium officinale). 



Beccabnnya is derived from the German Bach-punyen^bach meaning 

 a rivulet ; in Yorkshire and Norfolk a bech. (Smith.) 



