Principal Species. 



VERONICAS 441 



ones alternate. The droopino- tubular flowers are in terminal racemes 

 with five-parted calyx, and somewhat bell-shaped corolla, spotted inside 

 and with bearded throat, and sliohtly lobed mouth. There are four 

 stamens, maturing before the two-lobed stio-ma. and honey is secreted 



of Europe : North Africa, and Western Asia, cliielly of the Mediter- 

 ranean Reo;ion; one indigenous to Britain. Few of tlie species are 

 cultivated. 



lLis ambigua (doubtful). Stem hairy, 2 to 3 

 Leaves oval-lance-shaped, toothed, stalk less, 

 downy beneath. Flowers 2 inches long, yellowish, with network of 

 brown veins; July and August. Native of Europe; introduced 1596. 

 Perennial. Also known as D. grandiflora and D. ochrohuca. The var. 

 fuscescens has smaller, brown flowers. 



D. FERRUGINEA (rusty). Stem smooth, 4 to 6 feet high. Leaves 

 oval-lance-shaped, smooth, edges fringed. Flowers rusty, downy outside, 

 in long pyramidal racemes ; July. Biennial. Introduced from Italy, 

 1597. Also known as D. aurea. 



L. PURPUREA (purple). Common Foxglove. Stem 2 to 4 feet high. 

 Leaves oval-oblong, downy, wrinkled. Flowers purple, varying to pure 

 white, in dense-flowered, one-sided racemes : May to September. Native 

 biennial. 



Cultivation Foxgloves are cultivated with the greatest of ease. 



They prefer a light soil with a good proportion of leaf- 

 mould. Their fav^ourite habitat is a hedge-bank, the sloping ground 

 beside a copse, or any position where they can secure good drainage. 

 They are grown from seed, which is sown in April, and the seedlings 

 planted out in clumps, keeping the individuals six or eight inches apart. 

 They look especially well in groups in a shrubbery border. They may also 

 be propagated by dividing the roots, but this plan is not recommended. 



VEKONICAS 



Natural (Jrd.r Scn^miVLXRi^EA.. Genus Veronica 



\ ERONICA (se\-eral derivations given, but nut considered satisfactory). A 

 genus containing about one hundred and sixty species of herbs or slirubs 

 with opposite or whorled leaves, and usually blue flowers in racemes, 

 rarely solitary. The calyx is usually four-parted, rarely five-parted : 

 the corolla wheel-shaped or nearly bell-shaped with four (rarely five) 



