THE FIGWORT FAMILY 
79 
Very common. In hedge-banks, pastures, woods, &c. ; generally distributed throughout England, 
Scotland, and Ireland. April — June. Perennial. 
17. Mountain Speedwell. (Veron'ica mont&na. Linn.) — A very similar species to the 
last, but having shorter clusters of flowers, the flowers being fewer, smaller, and nearly white ; 
the sepals broader ; the fruit much larger, flatter, longer than the calyx, and altogether rounder, 
often toothed at the edge and fringed with hairs ; the stems are hairy all round, more prostrate, and 
rooting at the nodes ; and the leaves are stalked. 
Not uncommon in moist woods in England, rare in Scotland and Ireland. May — September. 
Perennial. 
18. Marsh Speedwell. (Veron'ica scutell&ta. Linn.)— Flowers about \ inch across, 
white or pinkish white, usually with pink veins, in slender alternate clusters (racemes) ; the 
sepals 4, pointed, and broad ; and the capsules half as long again as the calyx, roundish, broader 
than long, much flattened, inversely heart-shaped (obcordate), with a short style. [As 
described in the genus Speedwell (Veronica).] The stem very brittle and straggling, from 
6 inches to 2 feet high, slender, generally smooth, rooting at the base and then erect, with narrowly 
lance-shaped smooth leaves, entire or slightly toothed. [ Plate 27. 
Not uncommon. In marshes, ditches, and wet places ; distributed throughout England, Scotland, 
and Ireland. June — August. Perennial. 
19. Water Speedwell. (Veron'ica Anagallis-aquatica. Linn.)— Flowers £ inch 
across, whitish or pale blue with darker veins, in loose opposite clusters (racemes) ; sepals 4, 
pointed, lance-shaped ; capsule not longer than the calyx, oval, slightly notched, and only very 
little flattened. [As described in the genus Speedwell (Veronica).] The stems are erect, stout, 
and fleshy, 1-3 feet high, hollow, and smooth ; the leaves are lance-shaped, stalkless, sometimes 
clasping the stem, smooth, and with the margins minutely toothed ; and the root is creeping. The 
whole plant is fleshy, shining, and without hairs. 
A form — Veronica Anagallis-aquatica, var. anagalliformis. Boreau— occurs, with the 
flower-clusters clothed with gland-tipped hairs. 
Not common. In wet ditches, by ponds and slow-running streams ; sparingly distributed through- 
out England, Scotland, and Ireland. June — August. Perennial. 
20. Brooklime. (Veron'ica Beccabun'ga. Linn.)— A very pretty water plant with 
numerous bright blue flowers, ^ inch across, in opposite clusters, in the axils of the leaves ; the 4 
sepals are pointed and narrowly egg-shaped ; the capsule is nearly as long as the calyx, roundish, 
slightly notched, and somewhat swollen. [As described in the genus Speedwell (Veronica).] The 
stems are from 9 inches to 3 feet long, prostrate, and rooting at the base, with erect, flowering 
stems, thick, fleshy, hollow, quite smooth, and much branched ; the leaves are blunt, oval, toothed, 
and smooth. The whole plant is, like the last, fleshy, shining, and without hairs, but it is much 
more prostrate and spreading. 
Very common. In brooks, wet ditches, and ponds, throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland. 
May — September. Perennial. 
