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rock speedwell, woodystem speedwell

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

Habit Perennials. Perennials.
Stems

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

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

Leaves

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Flowers

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.

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, 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.

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

35–62, orange, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.5 × (0.4–)0.9–1.2 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

= 16.

= 16, 32 (Eurasia).

Veronica fruticans

Veronica chamaedrys

Phenology Flowering (May–)Jun–Aug. Flowering Apr–Jun(–Oct).
Habitat Fissures, rocky places, scree. Rich soils, deciduous forests, forest edges, roadsides, chaparral, scrub, meadows, lawns.
Elevation 0–1000 m. (0–3300 ft.) 0–2200 m. (0–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from USDA
Greenland
[BONAP county 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

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. 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. 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
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
Name authority Jacquin: Enum. Stirp. Vindob. 2: 200. (1762) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 13. (1753)
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