Veronica biloba |
Veronica scutellata |
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bilobed speedwell, twolobe speedwell |
grass-leaf speedwell, marsh speedwell, narrow-leaf speedwell, skullcap speedwell, véronique en écusson |
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Habit | Annuals. | Perennials. |
Stems | erect, (1–)2–10(–18) cm, eglandular-hairy. |
ascending, (5–)15–45(–80) cm, glabrous, sometimes sparsely eglandular-hairy distally. |
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. |
petiole 0 mm; blade narrowly lanceolate or linear, rarely elliptic, (10–)30–50(–80) × (2–)3–7(–14) mm, 6–10 times as long as wide, base cuneate, margins remote- and fine-dentate, apex acute, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial glabrous or sparsely eglandular-hairy. |
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. |
1–5(–10), axillary, 40–90(–150) mm, (2–)5–20-flowered, axis glabrous, sometimes sparsely eglandular-hairy; bracts lanceolate, 1.5–3 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. |
patent or ± curled, (6–)10–15(–17) mm, longer than subtending bracts, glabrous. |
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 (1–)2–3 mm, apex obtuse to acute, glabrate; corolla pale lilac, pale sky blue, or whitish, with pink or dark blue narrow stripes, 2.5–7 mm diam.; stamens 4–5 mm; style (1–)2–4 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, ovoid or reniform, 2.5–5 × (3–)4–6 mm, apex emarginate by 1/3 length, glabrous. |
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. |
5–20, pale brownish, globular or ovoid, flat, 1.2–1.9 × 1–1.5 mm, 0.2 mm thick, smooth. |
2n | = 28 (Asia). |
= 18. |
Veronica biloba |
Veronica scutellata |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jul. | Flowering May–Sep. |
Habitat | Bare soils, open forests, scree, mountain and alpine meadows, humid places near streams, waste fields, ruins, calcareous and non-calcareous soils. | Moist meadows, marshes, shallows, forests, steppes, fens, stream banks, lakeshores. |
Elevation | (400–)1300–3000 m. ((1300–)4300–9800 ft.) | 0–1800(–2400) m. (0–5900(–7900) ft.) |
Distribution |
MT; UT; BC; Asia [Introduced in North America]
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AK; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; IA; ID; IL; IN; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MT; NC; ND; NH; NJ; NV; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; TN; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NL; NS; NT; NU; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; SPM; Eurasia; Africa (Algeria) [Introduced in s South America (Argentina)]
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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.) |
Alpine dwarf forms of Veronica scutellata tend to have relatively broad leaves and may therefore be easily confused with other species. (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 | ||
Synonyms | V. connata, V. scutellata var. villosa | |
Name authority | Linnaeus: Mant. Pl. 2: 172. (1771) | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 12. (1753) |
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