The B R I T I S 
H HERBAL. 
91 
2. Lircle, hairy SpecdweH. 
Veronica mas fupina et vulgatijfana. 
This is a fma!) fpeedwdl^ as common in our paf- 
tLires as the other, and like it, often called by the 
common but improper name of fliielliyt : this con- 
founds it with another genus, from which it is 
very diftinft ; as does alfo the common way of 
fpeaking, with the former, but they differ widely. 
The root of this is compofed of a multitude 
of flender fibres, joined to a fmall head. 
The ftalks that firft fhoot from it trail upon 
the ground, and take root at their lower fide, by 
which means the plant prefently fpreads into a 
large tuft. 
From thefe procumbent fhoots rife the ftalks 
which bear the flowers, as do alfo fome from 
the root. 
They are flender, weak, round, and of a pale 
green, ftve inches long, and, ufually, in part 
ereft, and in part leaning. 
7'he leaves grow in pairs : they are obiong) 
broad, deeply ferrated, and fharp-pointcd : they 
have fhort tootftalks, and they are of a pale 
green, and flightly hairy. 
The Howers ftand in long, flender fpikes at the 
tops of the branches, and are of a beautiful blue, 
fmall but very confpicuous. 
Under thele fpikes there frequently grow fome 
narrow leaves, unlike thofeon the rell; of the flalk. 
The feed-yeflTdl is flatted and heartfafliioned, 
and the feeds are numerous and fmall. 
This is very common in dry paftures, and 
flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it FrroJi/ia mas fupha et vufga- 
iiffmia. J. Bauhine, Veronica milgatior foHo ro- 
iundiore. 
We call it Common fpeedwell^ male fpeedwell^ 
and male fiuellin. If we would call it liille^ hairy 
fpccdivcll, there would be no confufion. 
There is the more reafon to afcertain this fpe- 
cies by fome determinate FngHfh name. In that 
it is luppofed to pofl^efs the greatcft virtue of any 
fpccdwell. 
There was an opinion very lately, thjt it was 
a cure for the gout, and the leaves, picked and 
dryed, fold for three or four (liiilings a pound. 
The people who deal in them adulterated them 
with thofe of the gem ander- leaved fpeedvjd!^ to be 
defcribed hereafter, and by that means they loft 
their credit, before it v^as found whctlur there 
were any foundation fur the opinion of this great 
efficacy or not. 
A decoftion of the whele plant is a powerful 
diuretick and deoblfruent : it is good in jaundices 
and the beginning of dropfies. 
A ilighter tincture of it, drawn by infufion, 
is a fudorifick, and good in fevers. 
Its juice, boiled into a fyrup with honey, is excel- 
lent in afthmas and other difordcrs of the lungsj 
and ufcd outwardly, in form of an ointment, it is 
good againft the itch and other cutaneous dif- 
orders. 
The decodion of it made very ftrons, and 
given as a glyfler with the common additions of 
oil and fugar, is of prodigious efHcacy in the tor- 
menting pains of the nephritick cholick. 
An infufion of the leaves, drank in th: man- 
ner of tea, is greatly recommended as a prove 
cative to vencry, and a ftrengtliener : it has been 
called a cure for barrenncfs, taken a long time 
in this manner. 
To thefe virtues we are to add, that it is placed 
foremoft by many, writers in the clafs of vui- 
neraries. 
3. Germander-leaved Speedwell. 
Veronica cbam^cdryos folio. 
The root is flender, and edged with fibres. 
The firft leaves are long, narrow, of a pale 
green, ferrated, iharp-pointed, and have no 
footflalks. 
The ftalks rile in the centre, and the leaves 
foon after fade. 
They are flender and weak, but tolerably up- 
right, and fix or eight inches high. 
The leaves ftand in pairs, and are like thofe 
from the root, but fhorter and broader; they are 
of a pale green, fliarply ferrated, and fliarp- 
pointed ; and they have no footftalks. 
The flowers ftand in long fpikes rifing from 
the bofoms of the leaves and they are of a very 
bright blue, large, and beautiful. 
The fecd-veflTels are heart-fafliioned, large, and 
flat. 
It is common in paftures, and flowers in JuLy. 
C. Bauhine calls it Cbam^drys fpiiria minor ro- 
tundifoUa. Ray, Veronica chamj^drys fylvejlris 
di£fa. Others, Cbam^sdiys fylvejlris. 
Our commom people call it Bine tiiiker. 
They give the juice of it to children as a re- 
medy for cbvc rickets, and often with fuccefs. 
4. Short-leaved Gerijianderlikc fpeedwell, 
Veronica chama'droyides foliis pcdiculis oblojigis in- 
ftdentihtis. 
The root is a fmall tuft of fibres. 
From this grow many flioots, that trail upon 
the ground and take root in different places. 
Ihe ftalks which fupport the flowers rife partly 
from thefe, and partly from the root : they are 
flender, weak, but imperfcaiy ered, and ten or 
twelve inches high. 
The leaves ftand in pairs, and do not grow to 
the ftalk by their bafe, as in the laft fpccies, but 
ftand on moderately long footftalks ; and thele, 
and the mainftaiks alfo, are a little hairy : the 
leaves are fliorr, broad, and Hentated, of a duflcy 
green, and a little hairy, 
'1 he flowers ftand on footftalks rifing from the 
bofom of the leaves in a kind of loofe Ipikes, 
four, five, or fix in each fpike : they are fmall, 
and of a faint blue. 
The feed-veflclis broad, flat, and heart-faOiion- 
ed at the end. 
It is common in our woods, and flowers in 
Auguft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Chamadrys rotundifolia fcu- 
ielhua. Ray, Veronica cham^droyides foliis pedi- 
culis ohlongis bifidentihus. Columna, Myffan. 
Diofcoridis, Montamm. Our Fnghfla v/nters 
call it Mountain madz-jcrt. 
It is pretended that the juice is good againft 
madncfs, but there is no authority for it, 
5. Ivv.. 
