The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

ivy speedwell, ivy-leaf speedwell

Dillenius' speedwell

Habit Annuals. Annuals.
Stems

decumbent to ascending, 5–40(–50) cm, eglandular-hairy.

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

Leaves

blade suborbiculate, (3–)5-lobed, central lobe usually overtopping lateral ones, (5–)7–15(–20) × 8–16(–25) mm, base truncate, margins (3–)5-lobed, apex acute, surfaces sparsely eglandular-hairy.

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

1–10, terminal, 50–400(–500) mm, 5–20-flowered, axis eglandular-hairy;

bracts suborbiculate, (3–)5-lobed, central lobe usually overtopping lateral ones, (5–)7–15(–20) mm.

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

patent or deflexed, (5–)9–15(–20) mm, equal to or ± shorter than subtending bract, length 2–3 times calyx, eglandular-hairy (in single line adaxially).

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

Flowers

calyx lobes 5–6(–7) mm, apex acute, abaxial surface usually glabrous, ciliate with 25–35 hairs per side;

corolla bright blue with bright white center, 5–7(–9) mm diam.;

stamens sky blue, 0.7–1.2 mm;

style (0.6–)0.7–0.9(–1.1) mm.

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

± round in cross section, ovoid, 3–4 × 4.5–6 mm, apex ± emarginate, glabrate.

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

1–4, bright yellow, ellipsoid to subglobular, urn-shaped, 2.3–3.3 × 2–3 mm, 1–2.2 mm thick, weakly cristate or rugose, ± smooth.

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

2n

= 54 (Eurasia).

= 16 (Eurasia).

Veronica hederifolia

Veronica dillenii

Phenology Flowering (Feb–)Mar–Jun. Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jul.
Habitat Fields, lawns, gardens, ruderal places, vineyards, open forests, shady rocky places, dunes. Open pine and oak forests, rocky, dry, sandy slopes.
Elevation 0–2000 m. (0–6600 ft.) 500–2200 m. (1600–7200 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; CA; CT; DC; DE; FL; GA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MD; MI; MO; NC; NE; NJ; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; SC; SD; TN; UT; VA; WA; WV; BC; ON; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
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. 315. 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. fruticans, V. grandiflora, 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. 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 Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 13. (1753) — (as hederaefolia) Crantz: Stirp. Austr. Fasc. ed. 2, 2: 352. (1769)
Web links