SCKOPHULABIXE^. 401 



dular down in the upper part, branching and often woody at the base, with 

 spreading or ascending flowering branches, 3 or 4 inches long. Leaves 

 small, obovate or oblong, entire or nearly so, and rather firm. Eacemes 

 short, consisting of a few, rather large, bright-blue flowers, on sh(?rt pedicels. 

 Capsules ovate. 



On alpine rocks, often at great elevations, in most of the great mountain- 

 chains of Europe, extending northwards to the Arctic Circle, but scarcely 

 into Asia. In Britain, not very abvuidant, and only in the highlands of 

 Perthshu'e and some adjoining counties of Scotland. Fl. summer. A 

 variety with smaller pink flowers has been distinguished under the name of 

 V.ffuticiilosa (Eng. Bot. t. 1028), but it is very rare, and probably merely 

 accidental. 



3. Alpine Veronica. Veronica alpina, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 484.) 



Stock shortly creeping, but never woody as in the roch Fijand much less 

 branched than in the thyme-leaved V. Flowering branches often solitary, 

 always simple, ascending, from 2 to 4 or even 5 inches high, and slightly 

 hairy. The raceme, when young, forms a short, shghtly hauy head, and even 

 in fruit is but httle elongated, consisting of 4 or 5 rather small blue flowers, 

 varying occasionally, as in other species, to a pale pink or flesh-colour. 



In alpine situations, in most of the great chains of Europe, Asia, and 

 North America, extending into high noi-thern latitudes. In Britain, only 

 near the summits of the higher mountains of Scotland, and not known in 

 England or m Ireland. Fl. summer. 



4. Thyme-leaved Veronica. Veronica serpyllifolia, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1075.) 



Stems shortly creeping, vei-y much branched, forming a small, flat, dense, 

 leafy tuft; the flowering branches ascending, 2 to 4 or 5 inches high. 

 Leaves nearly sessile, ovate, seldom half an inch long, very shghtly crenate, 

 and usually glabrous as well as the rest of the plant. Flowers very smaU, 

 of a pale blue or white, with daiiier streaks, sessile or shortly stalked, in ter- 

 minal spikes or racemes ; but the bracts, especially the lower ones, are rather 

 large and leaf-like, so as to give the inflorescence much the appearance of 

 that of the annual Veronicas. Capsule broad, and often rather deeply 

 notched. 



In pastures, fields, and waste places, in Eiu-ope and Eussian and central 

 Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Ch-cle, and ascending to high 

 alpine summits. Abundant in Britain. Fl. spring and summer. A variety 

 with shghtly downy stems occurs occasionally in the Scotch mountains. 



5. Common Veronica. Veronica officinalis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 765.) 

 Stems perennial at the base, much branched, creeping, and rooting at the 

 nodes, extending sometimes to a foot or more, but usuaUy about half that 

 length. Leaves obovate or oblong, toothed, and hairy. Spikes or racemes 

 like those of the preceding species, but hairy, and they are axillary, not ter- 

 minal^ for although sometimes, proceeding fi-om the upper axils, they may 

 appear terminal before the end of the branch has grown out, yet they are 

 never really so. Flowers nearly sessile, rather small, pale blue or rarely 

 flesh-coloured. Capsule obovate or obcordate, broader than it is long. 



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