370 



SCROPHULARIN^ 



*** Perennial ; flowers in lerniiiial racenies ; eejrolla-tube longer 



than broad 



11. V. spicdta (Spiked Speedwell). — Slein. erect, branching at 

 tlie base, about 6 in. high ; leaves thick, nearly sc.^.sile, with a 

 wedge-shaped base; serrate above the middle; flowers |- in. 

 across, bright blue, in a long, dense spike. — (."halk downs in 

 Cambridgeshire and Suffolk ; rare. — Fl. Jyly, August. ]'erennial. 



12. r. hvbrida (Tall Spiked Spcedwdl) is larger, reaching 



i8 in., and has stalked leaves, 

 rounded at the base and serrate 

 throughout. — IJmestone cliffs 

 in the west ; rare. — b"l. July, 

 August." Perennial. 



•x-xx* Perennial ; leaves aU. 

 opposite ; flowers in axil- 

 lary racemes 



13. V. officindbs (Common 

 Speedwtill). — A hairy plant 

 with prostrate ascendmg stems, 

 with shprt hairs all round ; oval, 

 shortly-stalked, serrate leaves ; 

 and erec,t, many-flowered, spike- 

 like raafemes of lilac or pale 

 blue flowerSj ^ in. across. — Dry 

 pastures, heaths, and woods ; 

 common. The leaves are 

 astringent and bitter, and are 

 sometimes made into tea. — Fl. 

 May — August. Perennial. 



14. V. Cliamecdrys (German- 

 der Speedwell, Blue Speedwell, 

 Bird's eye). — A well-known and 

 favouritt plant ; stem ascending, 

 with two lines of hairs ; leaves 

 sessile, hair)', deeply serrate ; 



flowers bright blue, .t in. across, in a long-stalked, slender, loose 

 raceme ; capsule shorter than the ealyx. — yedge-banks ; abundant. 

 No one can have walked in the coimtry in spring without admir- 

 ing its cheerful blossoms, but lew perhaps notice the singular pair 

 of hairy lines, which traverse the whole length of the stem, shifting 

 from side to side wlienever they arrive at a fresh pair of leaves, 

 and serving to conduct rain-water to the, root. It is sometimes 

 erroneously called Forget-me-not. — Fl. April — June. Perennial. 



'.//7////,'). 



