1. S. Houghtoniàna, Benth. Hairy; root-leaves ovate, heart-shaped; spike dense (5–12´ long); corolla (greenish-white or yellowish) not longer than the calyx, usually 2–3-parted.—Oak-barrens and prairies, Mich. to Minn., south to Ind., Ill., and Iowa.
16. VERÓNICA, L. Speedwell.
Calyx 4- (rarely 3–5-) parted. Corolla wheel-shaped or salver-shaped, the border 4-parted (rarely 5-parted); the lateral lobes or the lower one commonly narrower than the others. Stamens 2, one each side of the upper lobe of the corolla, exserted; anther-cells confluent at the apex. Style entire; stigma single. Capsule flattened, obtuse or notched at the apex, 2-celled, few–many-seeded.—Chiefly herbs; leaves mostly opposite or whorled; flowers blue, flesh-color, or white. (Derivation doubtful; perhaps the flower of St. Veronica.)
§ 1. LEPTÁNDRA. Tall perennials, with mostly whorled leaves; racemes terminal, dense, spiked; bracts very small; tube of the corolla longer than its limb and much longer than the calyx; both sometimes 5-cleft.
1. V. Virgínica, L. (Culver's-root. Culver's Physic.) Smooth or rather downy; stem simple, straight (2–6° high); leaves whorled in fours to sevens, short-petioled, lanceolate, pointed, finely serrate; spikes panicled; corolla small, nearly white; stamens much exserted; capsule oblong-ovate, not notched, opening by 4 teeth at the apex, many-seeded.—Rich woods, Vt. to Minn., E. Kan., and southward. July, Aug.
§ 2. VERONICA proper. Corolla wheel-shaped; capsule more or less notched, strongly flattened except in n. 2 and 3; low herbs.
[*] Perennials, stoloniferous or rooting at base, with opposite usually serrate leaves; racemes axillary, mostly opposite; corolla pale blue.
[+] Capsule turgid, orbicular, many-seeded.
2. V. Anagállis, L. (Water Speedwell.) Smooth, creeping and rooting at base, then erect; leaves sessile, most of them clasping by a heart-shaped base, ovate-lanceolate, acute, serrate or entire (2–3´ long); pedicels spreading; corolla pale blue with purple stripes; capsule slightly notched.—Brooks and ditches, N. Eng. to N. J., west to the Rocky Mts. June–Aug. (Eu., Asia.)
3. V. Americàna, Schweinitz. (American Brooklime.) Smooth, decumbent at base, then erect (8–15´ high); leaves mostly petioled, ovate or oblong, serrate, thickish, truncate or slightly heart-shaped at base; the slender pedicels spreading.—Brooks and ditches, common. June–Aug.