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bilobed speedwell, twolobe speedwell

grass-leaf speedwell, marsh speedwell, narrow-leaf speedwell, skullcap speedwell, véronique en écusson

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
from FNA
MT; UT; BC; Asia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
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)]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[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.)

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
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. grandiflora, V. hederifolia, V. longifolia, V. officinalis, V. peregrina, V. persica, V. polita, V. serpyllifolia, V. spicata, V. stelleri, V. sublobata, V. teucrium, V. triloba, V. triphyllos, V. undulata, V. verna, V. wormskjoldii
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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