Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Veronica sublobata
blue speedwell, blue water speedwell, brook pimpernel, véronique mouron-d'eau, water pimpernel, water speedwell
false ivy-leaf speedwell
erect or prostrate basally, (20–)30–100(–170) cm, usually thick-fleshy, glabrous.
decumbent to ascending, sometimes erect in young plants, 5–40(–50) cm, eglandular-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 ovate to broadly ovate, 5(–7)-lobed, central lobe longer than wide and broadest, (7–)9–15(–25) × (7–)9–17(–27) mm, base truncate, margins 5(–7)-lobed, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces sparsely eglandular-hairy.
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, 50–400(–500) mm, 5–20-flowered, axis eglandular-hairy;
bracts broadly ovate, 5(–7)-lobed, central lobe longer than wide and broadest, (7–)9–15(–25) mm.
suberect or arcuate-erect to subpatent, curved upwards in fruit, 3–7(–10) mm, longer than subtending bracts, glabrous or hairy.
patent or deflexed, (7–)10–18(–24) mm, ± longer than subtending bract, length 3–4(–6) times calyx, eglandular-hairy (densely adaxially).
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 3–4 mm, apex acute, sparsely hairy on abaxial surface or glabrous, ciliate with 25–35 hairs per side;
corolla pale violet to whitish, 4–5(–6) mm diam.;
stamens pale violet, 0.4–0.8 mm;
style 0.2–0.7 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.
± round in cross section, ovoid, 2–3 × 3.5–5 mm, apex ± emarginate, glabrate.
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, bright reddish brown, broadly ovoid to subglobular, urn-shaped, 2.2–2.7 × 2–2.4 mm, 1–1.8 mm thick, transverse ribs inconspicuous, thinner towards margin, margins strongly involute.
= 36.
= 36 (Europe).
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Veronica sublobata
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 sublobata is closely related to V. hederifolia and has been frequently synonymized with or treated as a subspecies of the latter. It has rarely been reported in the flora area and is surely more widespread than indicated above. It seems to be more rare than V. hederifolia with only about a dozen verified records from seven states. However, its frequent occurrence in cultivated habitats in Europe makes it likely that it has been introduced to the flora area on multiple occasions.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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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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