Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Veronica argute-serrata
blue speedwell, blue water speedwell, brook pimpernel, véronique mouron-d'eau, water pimpernel, water speedwell
bilobed speedwell, sawtooth speedwell, twolobed speedwell
erect or prostrate basally, (20–)30–100(–170) cm, usually thick-fleshy, glabrous.
erect, (7–)10–20(–30) cm, eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy.
petiole 0–2(–8) mm (basal lateral branches usually distinctly petiolate to 8 mm) proximally, 0 mm distally;
blade (of proximal leaves) ovate, elliptic, or oblong, (15–)30–80(–145) × (7–)10–30(–45) mm, 1.5–3 times as long as wide, base obtuse proximally to cordate-amplexicaul in middle and ± cuneate distally, margins ± serrulate or denticulate, apex acute, surfaces glabrous, rarely glandular-hairy.
blade lanceolate or elliptic, (6–)12–28(–35) × 3–12(–20) mm, base cuneate, margins serrate, teeth 4–7(–12) per side, apex acute, surfaces sparsely glandular-hairy or glabrate.
6–25, axillary, 50–100(–150) mm, 5–10 mm diam., (20–)30–40(–60)-flowered, axis glabrous, rarely glandular-hairy;
bracts linear to lanceolate, 2–5 mm, apex acute.
1–8, terminal, usually reduced and replaced by 2 pseudodichotomous racemes with additional axillary racemes, 80–150 mm, (5–)10–25(–35)-flowered, axis eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy;
bracts lanceolate, 9–12 mm, proximals with margins serrate, distals sometimes entire.
suberect or arcuate-erect to subpatent, curved upwards in fruit, 3–7(–10) mm, longer than subtending bracts, glabrous or hairy.
erect-patent to spreading proximally, deflexed distally, (3–)6–9(–12) mm, shorter than subtending bract, densely glandular- and eglandular-hairy.
calyx lobes 2–3 mm, apex acute, glabrous, rarely hairy;
corolla lavender to pale blue, rarely pale lilac, (4–)6–8 mm diam.;
stamens 3–3.5 mm;
style 1.5–2.5 mm.
calyx lobes (5–)6–8.5(–10) mm, apex acuminate-acute, pairs connate 0.8–1.1 mm, glandular- and eglandular-hairy, rarely sparsely hairy;
corolla mostly intense blue with white center, 4–6 mm diam.;
stamens 2.5 mm;
style (0.7–)1–1.3(–1.7) mm.
slightly compressed in cross section, globular, (2.5–)3–3.5(–4) × 2.5–3.2(–4) mm, apex rounded or ± emarginate, glabrous or sparsely short glandular-hairy.
slightly compressed in cross section, 3.5–5 × (4–)5–8 mm, apex emarginate, sinus angle 30–45(–60)°, densely eglandular- and glandular-hairy, rarely eglandular-hairy.
40–77, yellow-brown, ellipsoid to subglobular, planoconvex, (0.3–)0.5–0.7 × 0.3–0.5 mm, 0.2–0.3 mm thick, smooth.
4–10, yellowish brown, oblong to ovoid, cymbiform, 1.5–2.5 × 0.8–1.5 mm, 0.8 mm thick, cristate, dorsally reticulate-verrucate.
= 36.
= 18, 42 (Asia).
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Veronica argute-serrata
Veronica anagallis-aquatica is widespread. It is not clear whether it is native to the flora area; it is certainly introduced in some states and commonly dispersed by human activity. The species varies with water availability. It is frequently confused with V. catenata. Ecological differences (see discussion under 15. V. catenata) may suggest that V. anagallis-aquatica does not occur in most parts of Canada and Alaska from which the species is reported but is present in some states excluded from the distribution area due to the lack of herbarium specimens seen (for example, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Vermont). Hybrids are frequent in Europe (V. ×lackschewitzkii J. Keller) and have been reported for California and Nebraska (L. R. Heckard and P. Rubtzoff 1977). The sterile hybrids never form capsules and bear relatively long inflorescences. Another closely related species, V. anagalloides Gussone (= V. salina Schur), is not present in North America.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Veronica argute-serrata has been recorded mostly under the name V. biloba and occasionally under V. campylopoda Boissier. Most of the records for V. biloba likely belong under this name. Veronica biloba is also found in the flora area, sometimes mixed with V. argute-serrata; V. campylopoda has not been recorded from the flora area. A chromosome count of 2n = 18 (C. R. Bell 1965) for American material is suspicious because 2n = 42 has been reported multiple times in Turkish plants, and a base chromosome number of × = 9 is not known in related species.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
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MI Flora, 
MO Plants, 
PNW Herbaria, 
SW CO Wildflowers, Turner Photog. 
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