VERONICA URTICiEFO'LIA. 
NETTLE-LEAVED SPEEDWELL. 
Class Order. 
DIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
SCR0PHULAR1NEA!. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
Austria. 
18 inches. 
June, July. 
Perennial. 
in 1776. 
No. 167. 
The existence of the term Veronica, declares it 
to have had an origin, but we really cannot allot 
it a parent. The uncertainty of its derivation 
leaves us in corresponding doubts respecting its 
pronunciation. A Greek etymology has been given 
to it from phero, to bear; and nike, victory; 
intended to indicate a preeminence over other plants. 
If this be admitted as the derivation, the pronun- 
ciation of the i must be long; but the accentua- 
tion of the antepenult is so firmly established, that it 
would be now somewhat treasonable to disturb it. 
Several respectable authors have followed Withering 
in giving a preference to the long sound of the i ; 
but as the word cannot be referred to its origin, and 
is universally pronounced Veron'ica, it may seem but 
affectation to attempt the change of what is unim- 
portant. Urticse folia, from urtica, a nettle; and fo- 
lium, a leaf. 
Some of the species of Veronica have varieties 
with differently coloured flowers, and nearly all of 
them are hardy and of easy culture. The present 
species admits of being divided at the root in the 
usual seasons, for increase. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 1, 33. 
