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chain speedwell, pink water speedwell, sessile water-speedwell, water speedwell

bird's-eye speedwell, Germander speedwell, véronique petit-chêne

Habit Annuals or perennials. Perennials.
Stems

erect or ascending, 15–60(–80) cm, glabrous or glandular-hairy distally.

ascending, rarely erect, (7–)10–30(–50) cm, densely eglandular-hairy, hairs along stem in 2 prominent lines.

Leaves

petiole 0 mm;

blade oblong-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, (5–)25–50(–100) × 4–15(–30) mm, 2.5–5 times as long as wide, base amplexical-truncate or amplexical-subcordate, margins entire or subentire, apex acute, surfaces glabrous.

blade narrowly ovate to ovate-orbiculate, (10–)12–30(–42) × (6–)10–22(–30) mm, 1–2 times as long as wide, base truncate to ± cordate, margins crenate to deeply incised, apex obtuse, surfaces variably hairy.

Racemes

10–25, axillary, 100–160 mm, 15–25-flowered, axis glabrous or glandular-hispid;

pedicels less than 3 per cm, glabrous or scarcely to densely short glandular-hairy, rarely completely glabrous;

bracts oblong, 3–5 mm, apex obtuse.

1–4, axillary, 40–100(–200) mm, 15–40(–60)-flowered, axis eglandular-hairy, sometimes also glandular-hairy;

bracts linear-elliptic, 3–7 mm.

Pedicels

patent, (3–)5–10 mm, equal to or ± shorter than subtending bract, glabrous or glandular-hairy.

suberect, (3–)5–8(–10) mm, equal to or shorter than subtending bract, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes 2.5–3 mm, apex obtuse, glabrous or glandular-hairy;

corolla white to pale pink with darker veins not reaching margins, 4–5 mm diam.;

stamens 5 mm;

style (1.3–)1.5–2.5 mm.

calyx 4-lobed, lobes 2–8 mm, apex acute, eglandular- and, sometimes, glandular-hairy;

corolla blue obscure darker nerves and sometimes whitish margin, (6–)10–14(–17) mm diam.;

stamens 4.5–6.5 mm;

style (2.5–)4–5 mm.

Capsules

± compressed in cross section, subglobular, 2.5–3(–3.5) × 3–4 mm, apex emarginate, sinus 0.1–0.3 mm, glabrous or glandular-hairy.

strongly compressed in cross section, obcordiform to obdeltoid, (2–)3.5–4(–5) × (3.5–)4–5(–5.5) mm, apex ± emarginate, eglandular-hairy.

Seeds

26–123, yellow-brown, ellipsoid to subglobular, planoconvex, 0.4–0.7 × 0.3–0.5 mm, 0.2–0.3 mm thick, smooth.

(2–)12–20(–28), yellow, ellipsoid, flat, 1.1–1.7 × 0.6–1.5 mm, 0.2–0.4 mm thick, smooth to subrugose.

2n

= 36.

= 16, 32 (Eurasia).

Veronica catenata

Veronica chamaedrys

Phenology Flowering Jun–Oct. Flowering Apr–Jun(–Oct).
Habitat Wet places, rarely running water, lakeshores, ditches, muddy places, stream channels. Rich soils, deciduous forests, forest edges, roadsides, chaparral, scrub, meadows, lawns.
Elevation 0–2500 m. (0–8200 ft.) 0–2200 m. (0–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; MA; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; ND; NE; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; SD; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; ON; QC; SK; Europe
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
AK; CT; DC; ID; IL; IN; MA; MD; ME; MI; MO; MT; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; OR; PA; RI; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; AB; BC; NB; NF; NS; ON; PE; QC; Eurasia [Introduced in South America (Argentina)]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Veronica catenata seems to be a relative of V. anagallis-aquatica that is more cold-adapted, as seen in Europe (R. Götte 2007), and native to the flora area. Although no specimens were seen it may be found in Alaska, Connecticut, and Kentucky.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

The description provided here for Veronica chamaedrys is solely for the tetraploid cytotype, most probably the exclusive cytotype in the flora area and in central and western Europe. The diploid cytotype is so far only known from eastern and southeastern Europe (K. E. Bardy et al. 2010). A significant change in morphology can occur in shaded habitats, in which especially the petiole can be elongated beyond the range given.

It is unclear whether Veronica chamaedrys is introduced throughout the flora area; it may be native in northeastern areas of North America.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 314. FNA vol. 17, p. 318.
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. biloba, 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. 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
Synonyms V. catenata var. glandulosa, V. connata subsp. glaberrima
Name authority Pennell: Rhodora 23: 37. (1921) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 13. (1753)
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