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blue speedwell, blue water speedwell, brook pimpernel, véronique mouron-d'eau, water pimpernel, water speedwell

glandular speedwell, pale speedwell

Habit Annuals or perennials. Annuals.
Stems

erect or prostrate basally, (20–)30–100(–170) cm, usually thick-fleshy, glabrous.

decumbent to ascending, (5–)10–30 cm, sparsely subvillous to glabrate.

Leaves

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 suborbiculate, 6–20 × 9–20 mm, base subcordate, truncate, or cuneate, margins 5–9-lobed 1/6–1/3 of width of blade, lateral lobes ± narrower, apex acute, surfaces eglandular-hairy, rarely also glandular-hairy or glabrate.

Racemes

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.

1–10, terminal, (50–)100–300 mm, 5–20-flowered, axis eglandular-hairy, rarely also glandular-hairy or glabrate;

bracts suborbiculate, 6–20 mm, 5- to 9-lobed for 1/6–1/3 of width of leaf blade, lateral lobes ± narrower.

Pedicels

suberect or arcuate-erect to subpatent, curved upwards in fruit, 3–7(–10) mm, longer than subtending bracts, glabrous or hairy.

patent or recurved, 5–15(–30) mm, equal in flower to ± longer than subtending bract in fruit, eglandular- or glandular-pilose or glabrous.

Flowers

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 erect-patent, (3–)4–5 mm, apex obtuse, abaxial surfaces eglandular- or glandular-hairy, rarely glabrous, not ciliate;

corolla white, 6–12 mm diam.;

stamens 1–2 mm;

style 1–2 mm.

Capsules

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.

± round in cross section, ovoid to ellipsoid, 2.5–3.5 × 3.5–4.5 mm, apex ± emarginate, eglandular- or glandular-pilose.

Seeds

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.

1–4, brownish orange, subglobular, urn-shaped (elaiosome inside), (2–)2.5–3.1 × (1.7–)2–2.5(–2.8) mm, 1.1–1.7 mm thick, cristate.

2n

= 36.

= 36, 54 (Eurasia).

Veronica anagallis-aquatica

Veronica cymbalaria

Phenology Flowering Mar–Sep(–Nov). Flowering Mar–May(–Jun).
Habitat Stream margins, ditches, banks, springs, swamps, wet meadows. Lawns.
Elevation 0–4000 m. (0–13100 ft.) 20 m. (100 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; ME; MI; MO; MT; NC; ND; NE; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SD; TN; TX; UT; VA; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; ON; Eurasia; Africa; Atlantic Islands [Introduced in North America; likely introduced also in Mexico, Central America, South America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
LA; Eurasia (Mediterranean) [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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.)

The occurrence of Veronica cymbalaria in other states is possible. It has been reported from Maryland; a herbarium specimen could not be located. The report seems to be based on incorrect synonymy (C. Frye, pers. comm.).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 313. FNA vol. 17, p. 317.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Veronica Plantaginaceae > Veronica
Sibling taxa
V. agrestis, V. alpina, V. americana, V. argute-serrata, V. arvensis, V. beccabunga, V. biloba, V. catenata, V. chamaedrys, V. copelandii, V. cusickii, V. cymbalaria, V. dillenii, V. filiformis, V. fruticans, V. grandiflora, V. hederifolia, V. longifolia, V. officinalis, V. peregrina, V. persica, V. polita, V. scutellata, V. serpyllifolia, V. spicata, V. stelleri, V. sublobata, V. teucrium, V. triloba, V. triphyllos, V. undulata, V. verna, V. wormskjoldii
V. agrestis, V. alpina, V. americana, V. anagallis-aquatica, V. argute-serrata, V. arvensis, V. beccabunga, V. biloba, V. catenata, V. chamaedrys, V. copelandii, V. cusickii, V. dillenii, V. filiformis, V. fruticans, V. grandiflora, V. hederifolia, V. longifolia, V. officinalis, V. peregrina, V. persica, V. polita, V. scutellata, V. serpyllifolia, V. spicata, V. stelleri, V. sublobata, V. teucrium, V. triloba, V. triphyllos, V. undulata, V. verna, V. wormskjoldii
Synonyms V. anagallis-aquatica var. terrea, V. brittonii, V. comosa, V. glandifera, V. micromera
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 12. (1753) — (as anagall. s) Bodard: Mém. Véronique Cymb., 3. (1798)
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