SCROPHULARINE^J. 621 



IX. VERONICA. VERONICA. 



Herbs (or shrubs in a few exotic species), with opposite stem-leaves, 

 and small flowers, usually blue or white, sometimes arranged in spikes 

 or racemes, or in the axils of alternate floral leaves. Calyx 4- or 5- 

 cleft. Corolla with a very short tube, the limb rotate, deeply 4-cleft, 

 the lower segment the narrowest. Stamens 2. Capsule more or less 

 flattened laterally (at right-angles to the partition), and opening round 

 the edges in 2 valves. Seeds few. 



A numerous genus in the northern hemisphere, with a few species 

 spreading into the tropics and far into the southern hemisphere, whilst 

 others are peculiar to Australia and New Zealand. Among the latter 

 the V. sjpeciosa, salicifolia, Lindleyana, and other shrubby or half- 

 shrubby ones are much cultivated in our gardens. 

 Perennials, with the flowers in leafless spikes or racemes. 

 Spikes or racemes terminal. 



Stem erect, with a long, dense, terminal spike of 



flowers 1. Spiked V. 



Stems diffuse or very short. Racemes loose, few- 

 flowered. 



Stem shrubby at the base 2. MocJc V. 



Stems herbaceous. 



Stem erect or scarcely creeping at the base, 2 

 or 3 inches high. Flowers very few, in a 



short spike or head 3. Alpine V. 



Stem creeping, and rooting at the base. Flowers 



in loose, often leafy spikes 4. Thyme-leaved V. 



Racemes axillary. 

 Plant glabrous. 



Leaves linear or lanceolate. Stem diffuse. Racemes 

 few and slender. Capsule very flat, broader 



than long 8. Marsh V. 



Leaves lanceolate or oblong. Stem erect. Racemes 



numerous. Capsule as long or longer than broad 6. Water V. 

 Leaves oblong or ovate, rather thick and obtuse. 



Stem diffuse 7. BrooMine V. 



Plant more or less hairy. 



Leaves much narrowed at the base. Flowers sessile 



or almost sessile . 5. Common V. 



Leaves ovate, broad or cordate at the base. Flowers 

 rather large and pedicellate. 

 Stem hairy all round. Capsule broadest in the 



middle 9. Mountain V. 



Stem with two opposite lines of long hairs. 



Capsule broadest towards the top . . . .10. Germander V. 

 Annuals. Flowers all, or at least the lower ones, solitary 

 in the axils of the leaves. 



