Veronica. | LVI. SCROPHULARINER. 335 
times distinguished under the name of V. hybrida, Linn., occurs in 
Somersetshire and in some other western counties ; and numerous varieties 
of this and the allied V. paniculata and longifolia have long been culti- 
yated for ornament in cottage-gardens. 
9, V.saxatilis, Linn. (fig. 749). Rock Veronica.—A low, spreading 
perennial, glabrous in all its parts except a slight glandular down in the 
upper part, branching and often woody at the base, with spreading or as- 
cending flowering branches, 3 or 4 inches long. Leaves small, obovate or 
oblong, entire or nearly so, and rather firm. Racemes short, consisting 
of a few, rather large, bright-blue flowers, on short 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 abundant, and only in the high mountains 
of Perthshire and some adjoining counties of Scotland. Fl. summer, A 
variety with smaller pink flowers has been distinguished under the name 
of V.fruticulosa, but it is very rare, and probably merely accidental. 
3. V. alpina, Linn. (fig. 750). Alpine Veronica.—Stock shortly 
creeping, but never woody as in V’, saxatilis, and much less branched than 
in V. serpyllifolia, 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, slightly hairy head, and even in fruit 
is but little 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 northern latitudes. In Britain, only 
near the summits of the higher mountains of Scotland. £V. summer. 
4, VW. serpyllifolia, Linn. (fig. 751). Thyme-leaved Veronica.— 
Stems shortly creeping, very 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 slightly crenate, 
and usually glabrous as well as the rest of the plant. Flowers very small, 
of a pale blue or white, with darker streaks, sessile or shortly stalked, in 
terminal spikes or racemes; but the bracts, especially the lower ones, are 
rather large and leaf-like, so as to give the inflorescence much the appear- 
ance of that of the annual Veronicas. Capsule broad, and often rather 
deeply notched. 
In pastures, fields, and waste places, in Europe and Russian and central 
Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, and ascending to high 
alpine summits. Abundantin Britain. Hl.spring and summer. A variety 
with slightly downy stems occurs occasionally in the Scotch mountains. 
The American V. peregrina, an annual otherwise much resembling some 
varieties of V. serpyllifolia, has occasionally appeared in England and 
Ireland as an introduced weed. 
5, WV. officinalis, Linn. (fig. 752). Common Veronica.—Stems peren- 
nial at the base, much branched, creeping, and rooting at the nodes, ex- 
tending sometimes to a foot or more, but usually 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 terminal ; 
for although sometimes proceeding from the other axils, they may appear 
