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ivy speedwell, ivy-leaf speedwell

undulate speedwell, wavy-leaf water speedwell

Habit Annuals. Annuals or perennials.
Stems

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

erect or prostrate basally, 10–100 cm, glabrous at least proximally, glandular-hairy distally.

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.

petiole 0–5 mm;

blade elliptic to ovate, sometimes ovate-oblong or linear-lanceolate, rarely lanceolate, 20–50(–100) × 5–20(–25) mm, 2.5–4 times as long as wide, base attenuate, upwards amplexicaul, margins subentire or crenate to serrate or ± undulate, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous.

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.

6–25, axillary, 50–220 mm, 10–15 mm diam., 10–100-flowered, axis sparsely glandular-hairy, rarely glabrous;

pedicels 2–6 per cm;

bracts linear to lanceolate, 3–6 mm, apex acute.

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).

patent, 3–5 mm, equal to subtending bract, sparsely 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 1.5–2(–3) mm, apex acute, sparsely glandular-hairy, rarely glabrous;

corolla pale blue or pale lilac, rarely white, 2.5–5 mm diam.;

stamens 2 mm;

style 0.9–2 mm.

Capsules

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

slightly compressed in cross section, obcordiform to globular, 2–3 × 2–3 mm, apex rounded or ± emarginate, sparsely glandular-hairy.

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.

30–40, ochre, broadly ellipsoid, ± flat, convex on both sides, 0.5–0.6 × 0.4–0.5 mm, thickness and texture unknown.

2n

= 54 (Eurasia).

= 54 (Asia).

Veronica hederifolia

Veronica undulata

Phenology Flowering (Feb–)Mar–Jun. Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Sep.
Habitat Fields, lawns, gardens, ruderal places, vineyards, open forests, shady rocky places, dunes. Disturbed, wet places, ditches, or swamps.
Elevation 0–2000 m. (0–6600 ft.) 0–200 m. (0–700 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
AL; OR; WA; Asia [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In the flora area, Veronica undulata was introduced near ports (Mobile, Alabama, and Portland, Oregon) before 1900 via ship ballast from trade with Asia, did not spread much, and may not have persisted.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 315. FNA vol. 17, p. 314.
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. 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. verna, V. wormskjoldii
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 13. (1753) — (as hederaefolia) Wallich: in W. Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 1: 147. (1820)
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