Veronica argute-serrata |
Veronica biloba |
|
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bilobed speedwell, sawtooth speedwell, twolobed speedwell |
bilobed speedwell, twolobe speedwell |
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Habit | Annuals. | Annuals. |
Stems | erect, (7–)10–20(–30) cm, eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy. |
erect, (1–)2–10(–18) cm, eglandular-hairy. |
Leaves | 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. |
blade ovate to lanceolate-ovate, (3–)4–12(–20) × (1–)2–6(–12) mm, base cuneate, margins remotely serrate, rarely dentate, apex acute, surfaces glabrate. |
Racemes | 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. |
1–8, terminal, 20–80 mm, 5–15(–30)-flowered, axis eglandular- and glandular-hairy; bracts lanceolate, 6–9 mm, margins entire, apex acute. |
Pedicels | erect-patent to spreading proximally, deflexed distally, (3–)6–9(–12) mm, shorter than subtending bract, densely glandular- and eglandular-hairy. |
straight or scarcely deflexed, erect-spreading to horizontally spreading in fruit, (2–)3–8(–11) mm, shorter than subtending bract, eglandular-hairy, sometimes glandular-hairy, rarely glabrous. |
Flowers | 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. |
calyx lobes (3–)4–7(–9) mm, margins entire, apex acuminate-acute, pairs connate 0.5–1.5 mm, puberulent or glabrate; corolla pale to clear blue, 2–4 mm diam.; stamens 1–2 mm; style 0.4–0.8(–2) mm. |
Capsules | 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. |
slightly compressed in cross section, obcordiform, (2.4–)2.8–4(–4.5) × (3–)3.5–5(–6) mm, apex emarginate, eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy, rarely glabrous. |
Seeds | 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. |
(2–)4–6(–10), bright yellow, oblong, cymbiform, (1.4–)1.7–2(–2.2) × (0.7–)1–1.3 mm, 0.7 mm thick, smooth. |
2n | = 18, 42 (Asia). |
= 28 (Asia). |
Veronica argute-serrata |
Veronica biloba |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jun. | Flowering Apr–Jul. |
Habitat | Bare soils, oak and juniper forests, steppes, alpine meadows, fields, stony slopes, streams, gardens, ruins, ruderal places, calcareous and siliceous soils. | Bare soils, open forests, scree, mountain and alpine meadows, humid places near streams, waste fields, ruins, calcareous and non-calcareous soils. |
Elevation | (600–)900–3000 m. ((2000–)3000–9800 ft.) | (400–)1300–3000 m. ((1300–)4300–9800 ft.) |
Distribution |
CO; ID; IL; KS; MT; NE; NM; NV; NY; OR; UT; WA; WY; BC; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
|
MT; UT; BC; Asia [Introduced in North America]
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Discussion | 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.) |
Most reports of Veronica biloba pertain to V. argute-serrata. There are gatherings from potentially mixed populations (for example, Mt. Baldy, British Columbia, Lomer 97-118, UBC). Studies on phenotypic plasticity in these two species are necessary to ascertain the diagnostic characters. Veronica intercedens Bornmüller, native to western Asia, was recently reported from Idaho. It is most similar to V. biloba, distinguished by a large calyx with broadly ovate lobes (3–5 mm versus 2–3.5 mm), the pairs joined by more than one half. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 17, p. 321. | FNA vol. 17, p. 321. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | V. bornmuelleri | |
Name authority | Regel & Schmalhausen: Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 5: 626. (1878) — (as argute serrata) | Linnaeus: Mant. Pl. 2: 172. (1771) |
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