VERONICA. 



9 



stroyed. In such cases of an abundance of the plant, the 

 gathering it off by hand-shaking, will be the most effectual 

 mode of relieving the land from such a pest. 



A larger variety of the ^' Spergula arvensis " is cultivated 

 as excellent food for milch cows. 



4. The " Veronica hederifoha " is a weed of importance on 

 soft loams, and on land of a strength to produce both wheat 

 and green crops. 



The genus belongs to the class and order " Diandria 

 monogynia " of Linneus, and the natural order Pedicu- 

 lares" of Jussieu. 



Generic character. — Calyx : perianth inferior, of one leaf, 

 in four, rarely five, deep, lanceolate, acute, som^imes obovate, 

 permanent segments. Corolla : of one petal, wheel-shaped. 

 Tube almost as long as the calyx ; hmb, flat, in four deep, 

 ovate, unequal segments, the lowermost narrowest, the oppo- 

 site one broadest. Stamens : filaments two, inserted into the 

 tube of the corolla, spreading, ascending, tapering down- 

 wards ; anthers roundish, oblong. Pistil : germen superior, 

 compressed ; style thread-shaped, the length of the stamens 

 dechning ; stigma simple, obtuse. Pericarp : capsule in- 

 versely heart-shaped, or somewhat elliptical, compressed in 

 the upper part, of two cells, and two more or less cloven 

 valves ; seeds numerous, roundish. 



Essential character. — ■ Corolla four-cleft, wheel-shaped, 

 the lower segment, narrowest. Capsule superior, of two 

 cells. 



The " Veronica " is a very natural genus, and an extensive 

 one, extending to eighty-five species, which are commodiously 

 and naturally arranged by their inflorescence. 



The ivy-leaved " Speedwell," which we now mention as a 

 weed, has the flowers solitary. Leaves heart-shaped, flat, and 

 five-lobed. Segments of the calyx heart-shaped, acute. 

 Seeds cupped, wrinkled. Root annual, small, fibrous. 

 Flowers pale blue, on long, solitary, axillary foot-stalks. It 

 is sometimes called " Small henbit and in Norfolk the name 

 is " Winter weed." 



This plant flowers in April and May^ and seldom later. It 



