Veronica biloba |
Veronica triphyllos |
|
---|---|---|
bilobed speedwell, twolobe speedwell |
finger speedwell, fingered speedwell |
|
Habit | Annuals. | Annuals, sometimes biennials. |
Stems | erect, (1–)2–10(–18) cm, eglandular-hairy. |
erect or ascending, often blue tinged, (3–)5–15(–20) cm, densely 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: proximal ovate to triangular, 5–7 × 3–6 mm, distal 8–18 × 8–18 mm, base rounded, margins (proximal) coarsely crenate or (distal) 3–5(–7)-palmatifid, apex obtuse, surfaces sparsely hairy, often glandular. |
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, terminal, sometimes also 1 or 2 axillary, 30–120(–150) mm, 6–15(–25)-flowered, axis densely eglandular- and glandular-hairy; proximal bracts 5-palmatifid, distal 3-fid, 4–18 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 arcuate-ascending, 4–11(–20) mm, ± equal to subtending bract, length 1–2 times calyx, densely 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 4–6(–11) mm, apex obtuse, glandular-hairy; corolla deep blue, 5–10 mm diam.; stamens 0.9–1.7 mm; style (0.5–)0.7–1.5(–2) 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. |
± inflated basally, compressed distally in cross section, obcordiform, 4–5(–10) × 4.5–6.5(–8) mm, apex emarginate, glandular-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. |
14–22(–35), dark brown or blackish, subglobular, cymbiform, 1–2.2 × 0.7–2 mm, 0.4–0.9 mm thick, ± rugulose to cristate. |
2n | = 28 (Asia). |
= 14 (Eurasia). |
Veronica biloba |
Veronica triphyllos |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jul. | Flowering (Feb–)Mar–May(–Jul). |
Habitat | Bare soils, open forests, scree, mountain and alpine meadows, humid places near streams, waste fields, ruins, calcareous and non-calcareous soils. | Pine forests, stony pastures, rocky banks, sandy fields, gardens, roadsides, rarely calcareous soils. |
Elevation | (400–)1300–3000 m. ((1300–)4300–9800 ft.) | 100–1000 m. (300–3300 ft.) |
Distribution |
MT; UT; BC; Asia [Introduced in North America]
|
CA; ID; KS; MO; OK; OR; WA; Eurasia [Introduced in North America] |
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. 315. |
Parent taxa | Plantaginaceae > Veronica | Plantaginaceae > Veronica |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Linnaeus: Mant. Pl. 2: 172. (1771) | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 14. (1753) |
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