VERONICAS 



443 



Flowers blue, calyx woolly ; July. Herbaceous perennial, also known as 

 V. negleda. South Europe. 



V. LONGiFOLiA (long-leaved). Stem 2 feet high. Leaves oval or 

 oblong-lance-shaped, toothed. Flowers lilac or blue, racemes dense- 

 flowered; August. Perennial herb. Introduced from Central Europe, 

 1731. Plate 215. 



V. Lyallii (Lyall's). Stems prostrate and rooting, branched, 

 shrubby. Leaves oval to oval-lance-shaped, glossy, with a few teeth. 

 Flowers white, with pink veining near the throat ; i-inch across ; June 

 to September. Half-hardy shrub. New Zealand. 



V. PiNGUiFOLiA (fat-leaved). Stem robust, erect or decumbent, with 

 downy branches, 4 inches to 4 feet high. Leaves thick, leathery, concave, 

 oval-oblong. Flowers white, in short dense-flowered racemes, crowded 

 to form heads at tips of branches; June. Half-hardy shrub. New 

 Zealand. 



V. SALiciFOLiA (Willow-leaved). Stem shrubby, branched, 10 to 15 

 feet high. Leaves long, narrow-lance-shaped, glossy. Flowers variable 

 in size and colour; bluish purple to white, in long many-flowered 

 racemes ; June. Half-hardy shrub. New Zealand. 



V. SPECIOSA (showy). Stems with angular branches, 1^ foot high. 

 Leaves leathery, oval-oblong, glossy, midrib downy. Flowers deep blue- 

 purple, varying to violet, red, pink, or white ; in dense-flowered racemes ; 

 May. Half-hardy shrub. New Zealand. Plate 214. 



V. SPICATA (spiked). Stem decumbent at base, afterward rising 

 erectly to a height of from 6 to 18 inches. Leaves oblong-lance-shaped, 

 leathery, round-toothed. Flowers bright blue, throat bearded ; July to 

 August. Europe. Perennial native herb. 



V. Traversii (Travers') Stem branched, 2?, feet high. Leaves 

 leathery, flat, narrow-oblong. Flowers white, |-inch across, in many- 

 flowered racemes ; June to September. Half-hardy shrub. New 

 Zealand. 



V. VIRGINICA (Virginian). Stem unbranched, 2 to 6 feet high. 

 Leaves lance-shaped or oblong, closely toothed. Flowers white or bluish, 

 salver-shaped ; July. Hardy perennial herb. North America. 



Veronicas lend themselves to the purposes of most 

 gardeners, being easily satisfied in the matter of soil. A 

 rich, open soil is the best, where there is choice, and a 

 in shade. Some of the large-growing, hardy species must 

 I pr(j\isiou made for them in the shrubbery, whilst the 

 iljs do well at intervals along borders, or in beds. Small 

 ake admirable pot-plants, but they require frequent shifts, 



