437 
Veronica agrestis L. [720]. Ransom’s Herb Garden, and 
Green’s Nurseries, Hitchin, Herts., July 12, 1927 — J. E. Little. 
Yes : agrestis.- — E. Drabble. The particular conditions 
which suit V. agrestis L. seem to be a finely disintegrated soil 
rich in humus. Hence it may sometimes be looked for 
with success in garden ground and allotments in districts 
where it does not occur on ordinary agricultural land. Many 
local floras record it as common. Webb and Coleman 
(Flora Hertfordiensis, 1849) call it ‘ common in all their 
districts. It is certainly not so now in the Ivel basin. The 
Rev. E. F. Linton (FI. of Bournemouth) notes : — This 
species seems to be decreasing,” and this may be a possible 
explanation ; but it is probable that there has been frequent 
confusion as is evidenced by Herbarium specimens with 
V. polita Fr. on the one hand, and with V . persica Poir. on the 
other. Coste (FI. de France) gives valuable characters for 
the styles, viz. V. persica Poir., style de 2 mm : V. polita Fr., 
style long de 1 mm. ; V. agrestis L., style de moins de 1 mm. 
Ascherson and Graebner (FI. des N.O. Deutschen Flachlandes, 
640) separate V. polita Fr. as having the edges of the sepals over- 
lapping even in fruit, from V . agrestis L. (and V. opaca Fr.) in 
which the fruiting sepals do not overlap. The number, and 
consequently the size, of the seeds in each pouch is variable. 
A. and G. give : V. Tournefortii Gmel., 5-8 : V. opaca Fr., 1-5 : 
V. agrestis, 2-6 : V. polita Fr., 4-14. Even these overlapping 
limits do not entirely express possible variations : for I have 
found V. polita with as few as three, and V . agrestis with as 
many as eight seeds in a cell. 
Mr. I. A. Williams has sent me V. agrestis (Moreton, near 
Ongar, Essex, 1926) from garden ground ; and from a vine- 
yard at Mouthier, Doubs, W. France, 1927. I have seen it 
myself this year on garden ground or allotments in Kent 
(Tonbridge and Southborough), Norfolk (Wallington Hall, 
near Downham Market), Bedfordshire (Aspley Guise and Luton), 
Hertfordshire (Hitchin). Only in one case has it been on 
really agricultural land, viz. on White Hall and White House 
Farms, Littleport, Cambridgeshire, in crops of sugar beet ; 
and here the fine black fen peat gives the same conditions 
which induce the plant to generally prefer garden soil, as 
above noted. — J. E. Little. 
Veronica agrestis. L. [722]. Allotments, Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, 
Herts., July 8, 1927.— J. E. Little. Yes : very fine agrestis. 
— E. Drabble. Yes. The flowers in this gathering and in 
