[Sidenote: =Hairy Speedwell=
_Verónica Tournefórtii_
=Blue
Spring, summer, autumn
Utah, Cal., etc.=]
This is one of the most attractive of the little Speedwells, for its
flowers are bright and quite large. The stems are branching, hairy
and purplish, some short and erect, others long and trailing, and the
leaves are alternate above and opposite below, dull yellowish-green,
hairy and rather soft, with scalloped edges. The flowers grow singly,
on slender flower-stalks over an inch long, springing from the angles
of the upper leaves, and the corolla is three-eighths of an inch
across, the upper lobe deep brilliant blue, veined with dark blue, the
side lobes similar in color but not so bright, the lower lobe almost
white, without blue veins, and each lobe with a little pale yellow
at its base. The stamens and pistil are white, the anthers becoming
brown and the style bent to one side, and the capsule is somewhat
heart-shaped, containing several cup-shaped seeds. This forms patches
along roadsides and in fields, the soft foliage dotted with the quaint
bright blue flowers, opening a few at a time in bright sunlight and
closing at night. This is a native of Europe and Asia and is found
across the continent.
[Sidenote: =American Brooklime=
_Verónica Americàna_
=Blue
Summer
Across the continent=]
In shallow water, or in very wet meadows, we find these little flowers.
They are smooth perennials, with straggling, branching, purplish
stems, more or less creeping, and rooting from the lower joints,
from one to three feet long. The yellowish-green leaves usually have
short leaf-stalks and are often toothed and the very small, pale blue
flowers, with white centers and veined with purple, grow in loose
spreading clusters.
[Sidenote: =Alpine Speedwell=
_Verónica Wormskjòldii_
=Blue
Summer
Northwest, Ariz., etc.=]
A pretty little plant, with smooth, stiffish, toothless leaves and deep
bright blue flowers, with a little white at the base of the petals and
veined with purple. This is found in damp spots in the mountains, up to
twelve thousand feet, in northern places across the continent, and as
far south as Arizona.
[Illustration: Hairy Speedwell--V. Tournefortii.
Alpine Speedwell--V. Wormskjoldii.