78 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
Very rare. On alpine rocks on a few of the higher Scotch mountains. July — September. 
Perennial. 
Flowers in terminal spike-like clusters with a small bract at the base of each flower ; sepals usually 
4, rarely 5 ; corolla-tube longer than broad. 
13. Spiked Speedwell. (Veron'ica spic&ta. Linn.)— Flowers \ inch across, deep 
purple-blue, in dense erect spike-like clusters ; sepals 4, blunt ; corolla-tube longer than in the other 
species and the lobes narrower ; the stamens and style very long and protruding beyond the corolla 
(exserted) ; the capsule as long as the sepals, egg-shaped (ovate), with a persistent style twice as 
long as the capsule. [As described in the genus Speedwell (Veronica).] Stems simple or 
branched from the base, 2-8, generally about 6 inches high ; with narrow leaves only 
toothed towards the middle, in rather distant pairs, insensibly narrowing into their short stalks ; the 
whole plant is of a dull dark green. [ Plate 27. 
Very rare. On chalk downs in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. July — August. Perennial. 
14. Tall Spiked Speedwell. (Veron'ica hybrida. Linn.)— A species so similar to the 
last that most botanists consider it merely a variety. It differs in being altogether larger, 
6-18 inches high, with broader leaves, with rounded bases, abruptly stalked, and the margins 
toothed throughout. ( Veronica spicata, var. hybrida. Syme, and Benth. and Hook.) 
Rare. On limestone rocks in the west of England and Wales. July — August. Perennial. 
Flowers in clusters in the axils of the opposite leaves, each flower having a minute bract at its 
base ; sepals 4 or 5 ; corolla-tube shorter than wide. 
15. Common Speedwell. (Veron'ica officin&lis. Linn.)— Flowers inch across, 
pale lilac with darker veins, numerous, in spike-like clusters (racemes). Sepals 4, blunt, oval, 
shorter than the corolla ; stamens and style long and protruding beyond the corolla ; capsule 
longer than the calyx, inversely heart-shaped (obcordate), flattened, broader than long, with the 
persistent style longer than the capsule. [As described in the genus Speedwell (Veronica).] The 
stems are very variable in length, usually about 6 inches long, but sometimes as much as 18 inches, 
they are prostrate and rooting at the nodes, then ascending ; the leaves are oblong or oval or 
inversely egg-shaped (obovate), toothed, and hairy. The whole plant is usually hairy with jointed 
and gland-tipped hairs, but it is rarely nearly smooth. [ Plate 27. 
A variety — Veronica officinalis, vap. hirsuta. Hopkirk — altogether much smaller and with an 
inversely egg-shaped (obovate) capsule, not notched at the top, has been found in Ayrshire. 
Very common. On dry pastures, heaths, and in woods, throughout England, Scotland, and 
Ireland. May — August. Perennial. 
16. Bird’s-eye, Germander Speedwell. (Veron'ica Chamae'drys. Linn.)— This 
species is the best known of all the Speedwells. Its beautiful deep blue flowers, £ inch across, 
are on rather long stalks and form elegant loose clusters (racemes) ; the 4 sepals are pointed and 
lance-shaped ; the capsule is inversely heart-shaped (obovate), flattened, half as long as the calyx, 
rather broader than long, narrowing at the base, with the persistent style half as long again as 
the capsule. [As described in the genus Speedwell (Veronica).] The. stems are 1-18 
inches long, weak, rooting only at the base, and then ascending, and are easily distinguished 
by the two lines of hairs which traverse the entire length of the otherwise smooth stem, 
passing from side to side as they meet each pair of leaves, apparently for the purpose of 
directing moisture to the leaves and roots. The leaves are broadly egg-shaped (ovate), 
slightly heart-shaped (cordate) at the base, deeply toothed, and almost stalkless. [Plate 27. 
