FIGWOET FAMILY. 



227 



crenate, downy, on winged petioles, those of the stem alternate some- 

 what decurrent ; raceme erect, one-sided, simple, of numerous drooping 

 crimson or purplish flowers. 

 PuHPLE Digitalis. Fox-glove. 



stem 3-4 feet liigh, angled, leafy below and terminated by the raceme. Leaves dull 

 green, prominently nett^d-veined ; those of the stem gradually diminishing into bracts. 

 Flowers, ■2,-2)4 inches long, within somewhat hairy and beautifully spotted with deep 

 purple dots surrounded by white rings, or nodding, solitary, axillary peduncles. Cajpsult 

 downy, tipped v/ith the persistent style. See'Is pale brown, pitted. 



Cultivated. Native of Europe. June -July. 



Obs. Common in gardens where it is prized for its showy flowers, and 

 cultivated by the " Shakers" and others who raise medicinal plants for 

 its leaves. The common name Fox-glove is said to be a corruption of 

 the old Saxon name Folk's glove. Medicinally Fox-glove is classed 

 with Tobacco, Lobelia and other acrid narcotics, and should only be 

 employed under the direction of a medical adviser as it is dangerous in 

 large doses. Though considerable quantities of the leaves are supplied 

 to the drug market by the " physic gardens " of this country, they are 

 considered greatly inferior to those produced by the plant growing in 

 its native localities. * 



5. YERON'ICA, L. Speedwell. 



[Origin of the name obscure ; perhaps the flower of St. Veronica.] 



Calyx 4-parted. Corolla wheel-shaped or salver-shaped, the border un- 

 equally 4-lobed, the lateral lobes, or the lower one, usually narrower. 

 Stamens 2, one on each side of the upper lobe of the corolla, exserted ; 

 anther-cells confluent at the apex. Capsule ovoid or obcordate and com 

 pressed at the apex, 2-celled, few - many-seeded. 



1. V. peregri'na, L. Annual ; smooth ; lower leaves opposite peti- 

 oled, toothed, the upper alternate, sessile and entire ; flowers subssessik 

 in the axils of leaf-like bracts ; capsule orbicular, slightly notched. 

 Foreign Yeronica. Purslane Speedwell. Neckweed. 



.Sfe?n3-8 inches high, often branched at base. Leaves half an inch to near an inch 

 long, fleshy. Calyx lobes resembling the small upper leaves or bracts. Corolla whitish, 

 small and soon fulling, the lobes nearly equal. 



Waste and cultivated grounds. April -June. 



Obs. A very common annual weed which has every appearance of an 

 introduced stranger, though it is considered by most botanists as a nativo 

 plant. It is widely different throughout the whole length of our conti- 

 nent. It was at one time supposed to possess medicinal virtues in scrof- 

 ulous aSections,— which acquired for it the name of '•' Neckweed." 

 There are a number of native and introduced species belonging to this 

 genus, but this is the only one sufficiently common, as a weed, to be 

 noticed. 



