Veronica dillenii |
Veronica serpyllifolia |
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Dillenius' speedwell |
thyme-leaf speedwell |
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Habit | Annuals. | Perennials. |
Stems | erect to ascending, (8–)10–20(–40) cm, glandular- and eglandular-hairy. |
creeping to ascending, 5–40 cm, scattered eglandular hairs only, often also with glandular hairs, sometimes glabrate. |
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 oblong-lanceolate to ovate, 8–25 × 5–13 mm, 1.5–2.5 times as long as wide, base cuneate, margins subentire or serrulate-crenate, apex rounded to short-acuminate, surfaces 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, terminal, 50–100 mm, 10–30(–60)-flowered, axis eglandular- and glandular-hairy; bracts oblong, 4–7 mm. |
Pedicels | erect, 2–4(–5) mm, shorter than subtending bract, length 1/2–1 times calyx, eglandular- and glandular-hairy. |
erect, 2–5 mm, 4–6 mm in fruit, shorter than subtending bract in flower, eglandular- and, sometimes, 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. |
calyx lobes 2–3 mm, apex acute, ciliate; corolla white, blue, or pink, with purple or dark blue veins (except on abaxial lobe), rotate, 5–8 mm diam.; stamens 2.5–3 mm; style 2–4 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, obcordiform, 2.5–3.5 × 4–5.5 mm, wider than long, apex acutely emarginate, glandular-ciliate, otherwise glabrate. |
Seeds | 10–28, yellowish, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.6 × 0.7–1.3 mm, 0.2–0.3 mm thick, smooth. |
50–72, brown, ellipsoid, flat, 0.6–1.1 × 0.4–1 mm, 0.2 mm thick, smooth. |
2n | = 16 (Eurasia). |
= 14. |
Veronica dillenii |
Veronica serpyllifolia |
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Phenology | Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jul. | Flowering Apr–Aug. |
Habitat | Open pine and oak forests, rocky, dry, sandy slopes. | River banks, wet places, moist meadows, shady forests. |
Elevation | 500–2200 m. (1600–7200 ft.) | 0–3300 m. (0–10800 ft.) |
Distribution |
IL; IN; MI; NY; VA; WI; Eurasia [Introduced in North America] |
AK; AL; AR; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; DE; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; ND; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; TN; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; NB; NL; NS; ON; PE; QC; SK; South America; Mexico (Baja California); Eurasia; Australia
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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.) |
Alpine plants of Veronica serpyllifolia with bright blue, larger corollas, and smaller, hairier raceme axes have been treated at various ranks under the epithet humifusa. The characters are labile and show intergradations with the typical plants. Veronica serpyllifolia is widespread; it is not clear where it is native. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 17, p. 318. | FNA vol. 17, p. 312. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | V. humifusa, V. serpyllifolia var. decipiens, V. serpyllifolia subsp. humifusa, V. serpyllifolia var. humifusa, V. tenella | |
Name authority | Crantz: Stirp. Austr. Fasc. ed. 2, 2: 352. (1769) | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 12. (1753) |
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