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creeping speedwell, slender speedwell, thread-stalk speedwell, véronique filiforme

speedwell, spring speedwell

Habit Perennials. Annuals.
Stems

creeping, 5–50 cm, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

erect or ascending, (1–)3–15(–20) cm, at least distally glandular- and eglandular-hairy.

Leaves

blade suborbiculate, 4–13 × 4–14 mm, base cordate, margins crenate-serrate, teeth (2 or)3–5(or 6) per side, apex rounded, surfaces sparsely eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy.

blade lanceolate to ovate, (4–)6–13 × (2.5–)4–10 mm, 1.3–1.6 times as long as wide, base cuneate, proximal margins coarsely crenate-serrate, distal pinnatifid to subpalmatifid, lobes 3–7, central largest, lateral linear to lanceolate, apex of central lobe obtuse, lateral ± acute, surfaces sparsely glandular-hairy.

Racemes

1–6, terminal, 50–500 mm, 10–20-flowered, axis sparsely eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy;

bracts suborbiculate, 4–13 mm.

1–3, terminal and axillary, 20–80 mm, (5–)15–40(–60)-flowered, axis eglandular- and glandular-hairy;

bracts proximalmost often 3-fid, others linear-lanceolate, 3–5(–8) mm.

Pedicels

patent or recurved, (15–)20–30 mm, length 2–5 times subtending bract, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

erect, (0.4–)1–3 mm, shorter than subtending bract, length 1/3–1/2 times calyx, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

Flowers

calyx lobes 4–7 mm, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, apex rounded, sparsely glandular-hairy to glabrate;

corolla blue-violet to pale blue and white, 8–14 mm diam.;

stamens 2.1–2.5 mm;

style 3–4 mm.

calyx lobes (2–)3–5(–7) mm, apex acute, eglandular- and glandular-hairy;

corolla sky to pale blue, 1.5–3 mm diam.;

stamens 0.2–0.6 mm;

style 0.2–0.6 mm, stigma white.

Capsules

compressed in cross section, subglobular, 3.5–5 × 5.5–6.5 mm, apex emarginate, sinus angle 50–90°, absent or almost smooth, glabrous or glandular-ciliate.

compressed in cross section, obcordiform, 2.5–3.5 × 3.5–5 mm, apex emarginate, eglandular-hairy.

Seeds

(2–)6–14(–18), ochre, ovoid, flat to ± excavate, 1.3–1.7 × 1–1.3 mm, 0.6–0.8 mm thick, rugose to rugulose.

8–20(–26), yellowish, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.6 × 0.6–1.3 mm, 0.2 mm thick, smooth to ± rugulose.

2n

= 14 (Europe).

= 16 (Eurasia).

Veronica filiformis

Veronica verna

Phenology Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Aug). Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Aug).
Habitat Moist lawns and meadows, waste fields, stream banks. Open pine and oak forests, rocky and sandy steppes, pastures, meadows.
Elevation 0–1000 m. (0–3300 ft.) 300–2600 m. (1000–8500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; CT; DC; DE; ID; MD; MI; NY; OH; OR; PA; VT; WA; WV; BC; ON; QC; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID; IN; MA; MI; MN; MT; NY; OR; WA; WI; WY; BC; NB; NS; ON; PE; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Veronica filiformis is self-incompatible. In the flora area, plants seldom produce capsules; it is dispersed by stem cuttings. The species is native to subalpine meadows in the Caucasus and northern Turkey.

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

Specimens of Veronica verna from Alberta have not been verified.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 320. FNA vol. 17, p. 317.
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. dillenii, 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. 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. wormskjoldii
Name authority Smith: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 1: 195. (1791) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 14. (1753)
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