SCItOPIlULARLA.CE.aE. 1G9 



In ditches, and on the margins of ponds and slow streams. 

 Rather scarce, but generally distributed throughout the kingdom. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Biennial or Perennial. 

 Summer and Autumn. 



Stem 1 to 3 feet high. Leaves 2 to 5 inches long, somewhat 

 like those of Epilobium obscurum or the glabrous form of E. hir- 

 sutum. Racemes 3 inches to 1 foot long. Elowers $ inch across, 

 whitish or lilac with darker lines. Capsule about •§- inch long, 

 swollen below. Plant green, somewhat succulent, shining, turning 

 blackish in drying. 



Tlie form with the inflorescence clothed with gland-tipped hairs 

 is V. anagalliformis of Boreau. 



Water Speedwell. 



French, Yeronique Mouroti d ' Eau. German, Wasser Ehrenpreis. 



SPECIES XVIII.— V ERONICA BECCABUNGA. Linn. 



Plate DCCCCXC. 



Reich. Ic. FL Germ, et Helv. Vol. XX. Tab. MDCCI. 

 Billot, FL Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. o97. 



Stem succulent, stout, hollow, decumbent and rooting at the 

 base, then ascending, paniculately - branched, or simple in small 

 specimens ; branches spreading. Leaves very shortly stalked, oval 

 or oblong-oval, rounded at both ends, nearly entire and callously- 

 denticulate or crenate-serrate or serrate. Elowers rather numerous, 

 in lax axillary racemes elongating slightly in fruit. Peduncles 

 opposite, a little longer than the leaves ; pedicels longer than the 

 calyx, and usually longer than the bracts, more rarely equal or 

 shorter than the bracts, at length spreading. Sepals 4, elliptical- 

 ovate, acute, glabrous. Capsule nearly as long as the calyx, 

 orbicular, slightly compressed, emarginate, with indistinct elevated 

 veins, glabrous, surrounded by a border without projecting points ; 

 lobes contiguous, separated by a slight notch and a deep-impressed 

 line at the junction of the carpels. Style about three-fourths of 

 the length of the capsule. Plant glabrous. 



On the margins of brooks, ditches, ponds, &c. Very common, 

 and generally distributed. ' 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Spring 

 to Autumn. 



Stem 9 inches to 3 feet long, decumbent, except at the 

 extremity. Leaves 1 to 3 inches long, the petiole distinct, but 



VOL. VI. I 



