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bilobed speedwell, twolobe speedwell

large-flower speedwell

Habit Annuals. Perennials.
Stems

erect, (1–)2–10(–18) cm, eglandular-hairy.

prostrate to erect, unbranched, (3–)5–15(–20) cm, viscid-hairy.

Leaves

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.

blade elliptic-ovate, 20–45 × 15–30 mm, 1–3 times as long as wide, base cuneate, margins ± crenate-serrate, apex acute to rounded, abaxial surface with articulate hairs or glabrous, adaxial hirsute, or surfaces sparsely ciliate only.

Racemes

1–8, terminal, 20–80 mm, 5–15(–30)-flowered, axis eglandular- and glandular-hairy;

bracts lanceolate, 6–9 mm, margins entire, apex acute.

1–4, axillary, 50–150 mm, 3–8-flowered, axis viscid-hairy;

bracts oblong, 3–5 mm.

Pedicels

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.

suberect, 8–10 mm, longer than subtending bract, viscid-hairy.

Flowers

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.

calyx lobes 4 mm, apex obtuse, hairy;

corolla bright blue to violet-blue, 8–9 mm diam.;

stamens 7 mm;

style 7–9 mm.

Capsules

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.

compressed in cross section, obovoid, 9–11 × 7–8 mm, apex emarginate, sparsely hairy.

Seeds

(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.

unknown.

2n

= 28 (Asia).

= ca. 48–50 (Russia).

Veronica biloba

Veronica grandiflora

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jul. Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat Bare soils, open forests, scree, mountain and alpine meadows, humid places near streams, waste fields, ruins, calcareous and non-calcareous soils. Meadows, between stones, slopes, alpine slopes.
Elevation (400–)1300–3000 m. ((1300–)4300–9800 ft.) 0–600 m. (0–2000 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
MT; UT; BC; Asia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; Asia (Japan, Russia)
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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. 311.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Veronica Plantaginaceae > Veronica
Sibling taxa
V. agrestis, V. alpina, V. americana, V. anagallis-aquatica, V. argute-serrata, V. arvensis, V. beccabunga, 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. cymbalaria, V. dillenii, V. filiformis, V. fruticans, 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. aphylla var. grandiflora, V. grandiflora var. minor
Name authority Linnaeus: Mant. Pl. 2: 172. (1771) Gaertner: Novi Comment. Acad. Sci. Imp. Petrop. 14(1): 531, plate 18, fig. 1. (1770)
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