4 DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA 



* * Floioers in lateral, or axillary Racemes. 



2. V. officinalis-, L. Stem procumbent, roughly pubescent; leaves 

 ovate and obovate, serrate, hairy ; racemes pedunculate, erect. Beck, 

 Bot. p. 262. 



Officinal Veronica. Vulgo — Common, or Male Speedwell. 

 Gallice — Th£ d'Europc. Germanice — Aeehtcr Ehrenpreis. 



Whole plant covered with short roughish pubescence. Root perennial. Stem 6 

 to 12 inches long, diffuse with ascending branches. Leaves on. short petioles, vary. 

 ing from ovate to oval and obovate, palo green. Racemes on long axillary foot- 

 stalks ; bracts small, lanceolate ; flowers nearly sessile ; corolla pale blue, with 

 darker veins. Capsule pubescent, yellowish. 

 flab. Dry banks ; woodlands, &c. common. Fl. June— July. Fr. Aug.— Sept. 



Obs. This species also is believed to be Introduced ; but it is now very common. 

 It once had a place in the Materia Medica, as a tonic, &c« though it is probably 

 not worthy of the distinction. 



3. V. Beccabunga, L. Stem procumbent at base, and radicating at 

 the joints ; leaves lance-ovate, rather acute, serrate, on short petioles, 

 glabrous. Beck, Bot. p. 262. 



V. intermedia. Sclav, in Sill. Journ. 8. p. 268. 

 Vulgo — Brooklime. Wall-ink. 



Whole plant glabrous. Root perennial. fit*m9tol5 inch«s high. Leaves of- 

 ten sub-cordate at base, docurrent on the petiole, generally acute,— lowest ones 

 obtuse. Racemes opposite, erect, long and slender; bracts lanceolate, shorter than 

 the pedicels. Corolla bright blue. Capsule ovoid, or>oraewhat inflated. 

 Hob. Muddy Springs, and rivulets ; frequent. Ft. June. Fr. August. 



Obs. This plant is somewhat variant from the European species of the same 

 name,— the leaves being generally acute, more lanceolate, and mo re distinctly ser- 

 rate. The late Mr. Schweinitz considered it a distinct specie*, and named it V. 

 intermedia, in a list of Plants of Easton,Penn. published in Silliman's Journal, Vol. 

 8. p. 268. In his Herbarium, at the Philadelphia Academy, it U labelled V. ameri- 

 cana. It is, however, closely allied to the V. Beccabunga of Europe.— The plant 

 hasbeen reputed to possess anti-scorbutic properties; and the Expressed juice is a 

 popular remedy for croup, or cynanche trachealis: But its efficacy is very doubt- 

 ful. 



4. V. Axaoallis, /,. Stem erect; leaves amplexiraul, lanceolate, 

 acute, denticulate; racemes opposite. Becky BoU p. 261. 



Vulgo — Water Speedwell. Long-leaved Brooklime. 



Root perennial ; with verticils of numerous long capillary radicles at the 

 lower nodes of the stem. Stem 12 to 18 inches high, rather coarse and fleshy, 

 sometimes with a roughish pubescence. Leaves smooth, closely sessile and em- 

 bracing the stem, narrow-lanceolate, 2 to 3 inches long, and taj^ring gradually to 

 a point, sparingly denticulate, often nearly entire. Racemes ftmstly opposite, on 

 stout succulent peduncles ; bracts linear-lanceolate, as long as (he pedicels. Co- 

 rolla pale blue, with purple stripes. Capsule tumid. 

 Ilab. Muddy margins of rivulets : Great Valley ; rare. Fl. June. Fr. August. 



Obs. This is undoubtedly the true V. Anagallis ; as I have verified it by compa- 

 rison with authentic European specimens. When my Catalogue was published, 1 

 had never seen the plant ; and mistook for it, a variety of V. Beccabunga,— which, 

 however, is quite distinct. This species occurs at Downingtoyyn, and Brooke's 

 Mill; where it was detected, in 1833, by my indefatigable friend, Mr Joshua 

 Hoorss. I have also received Kentucky specimens, from Professor Short. 



