SCROPHULARINEvE. 



623 



Fig. 744. 



occurs in Somersetshire and in some other western counties ; and 

 numerous varieties of this and the allied V. paniculata and longi folia 

 have long been cultivated for ornament in cottage gardens. 



2. Rock Veronica. Veronica saxatilis, Linn. (Pig. 744.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1027.) 



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 ascending 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 eleva- 

 tions, 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 highlands of Perthshire 

 and some adjoining counties of Scotland. 



FL summer. A variety with smaller pink flowers has been distin- 

 guished under the name of V. fruticulosa (Eng. Bot. t. 1028), but it is 

 very rare, and probably merely accidental. 



3. Alpine Veronica. Veronica alpina, Linn. (Eig. 745.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 



Stock shortly creeping, but never 

 woody as in the rock V., and much less 

 branched than in the thyme-leaved V. 

 Elowering branches often solitary, al- 

 ways 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 occa- 

 sionally, 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 



Fig. 745. 



