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Dillenius' speedwell

rock speedwell, woodystem speedwell

Habit Annuals. Perennials.
Stems

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

ascending to erect, densely branched from woody base, (5–)10–15(–30) cm, eglandular-hairy, sometimes glandular-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.

blade obovate to ovate or spatulate, sometimes suborbiculate proximally, (7–)8–20(–25) × (2–)3–6(–7) mm, mostly shorter to equal to internodes, base cuneate, margins entire or ± crenate or serrate, apex acute, surfaces glabrous or glabrate.

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.

1–10(–20), terminal, rarely with 1–4 axillary, 20–40 mm, (1–)4–10(–18)-flowered, axis glabrate to sparsely eglandular-hairy;

bracts linear or linear-lanceolate or long-ovate, (1–)3.5–9(–15) mm.

Pedicels

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

erect, (2–)5–7(–15) mm, equal to ± longer than subtending bracts, eglandular-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.

calyx 4(or 5)-lobed, lobes (2.5–)4.5–6(–8) mm, apex obtuse, eglandular-hairy, sometimes also glandular-hairy;

corolla intense blue, sometimes with reddish or white center, rarely white, rotate, (6–)10–14(–15) mm diam.;

stamens 5–7 mm;

style (3–)5–7(–8.5) mm.

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.

± compressed in cross section, ovoid, (5–)6–8(–9) × (3–)4–4.5(–5.5) mm, longer than wide, apex attenuate to apiculate and acute, rarely rounded, not emarginate, eglandular-hairy, sometimes mixed with larger glandular hairs.

Seeds

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

35–62, orange, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.5 × (0.4–)0.9–1.2 mm, 0.2–0.3 mm thick, smooth.

2n

= 16 (Eurasia).

= 16.

Veronica dillenii

Veronica fruticans

Phenology Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jul. Flowering (May–)Jun–Aug.
Habitat Open pine and oak forests, rocky, dry, sandy slopes. Fissures, rocky places, scree.
Elevation 500–2200 m. (1600–7200 ft.) 0–1000 m. (0–3300 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
IL; IN; MI; NY; VA; WI; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
from USDA
Greenland
[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. 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. 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
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. 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) Jacquin: Enum. Stirp. Vindob. 2: 200. (1762)
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