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Dillenius' speedwell

Habit Annuals.
Stems

erect to ascending, (8–)10–20(–40) cm, glandular- and eglandular-hairy.

Leaves

blade lanceolate to ovate, 7–19(–21) × (3–)5–12 mm, 1–2 times as long as wide, base cuneate, margins (proximal) crenate-dentate or (distal) ±palmatifid, lobes 3–7+, apex of central lobe obtuse, lateral ± acute, surfaces glandular- and eglandular-hairy.

Racemes

1, terminal, 60–180 mm, 15–50(–120)-flowered, axis eglandular- and glandular-hairy;

proximal bracts similar to leaves, distal ones linear-lanceolate, 3–5 mm.

Pedicels

erect, 2–4(–5) mm, shorter than subtending bract, length 1/2–1 times calyx, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes 3.5–6 mm, apex acute, eglandular- and glandular-hairy;

corolla deep blue, 4–6 mm diam.;

stamens 0.8–1.5 mm;

style 0.8–1.5 mm, stigma violet.

Capsules

compressed in cross section, narrowly obcordiform, 3.5–4.5 × 4–6 mm, apex emarginate, angle of sinus ca. 90°, ciliate with glandular and eglandular hairs.

Seeds

10–28, yellowish, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.6 × 0.7–1.3 mm, 0.2–0.3 mm thick, smooth.

2n

= 16 (Eurasia).

Veronica dillenii

Phenology Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jul.
Habitat Open pine and oak forests, rocky, dry, sandy slopes.
Elevation 500–2200 m. (1600–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
IL; IN; MI; NY; VA; WI; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Veronica dillenii is closely related to V. verna but with larger flowers; it may have been overlooked and may be distributed more widely. Most herbarium specimens of V. dillenii blacken when dry due to the presence of aucubin, which distinguishes them from V. verna.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 318.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Veronica
Sibling taxa
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. 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
Name authority Crantz: Stirp. Austr. Fasc. ed. 2, 2: 352. (1769)
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