Veronica sublobata
Veronica spicata
false ivy-leaf speedwell
spike speedwell, véronique en épi
decumbent to ascending, sometimes erect in young plants, 5–40(–50) cm, eglandular-hairy.
ascending, usually with 4–10 nodes, 5–45(–60) cm, proximally eglandular- or glandular-hairy, sometimes glabrous, distally eglandular- and, usually, glandular-hairy.
blade ovate to broadly ovate, 5(–7)-lobed, central lobe longer than wide and broadest, (7–)9–15(–25) × (7–)9–17(–27) mm, base truncate, margins 5(–7)-lobed, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces sparsely eglandular-hairy.
blade ovate-oblong to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, (30–)40–70(–80) × 5–20 mm, base long-cuneate, margins shallowly crenate to shallowly serrate to subentire, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces densely glandular- or eglandular-hairy, rarely glabrate.
1–10, terminal, 50–400(–500) mm, 5–20-flowered, axis eglandular-hairy;
bracts broadly ovate, 5(–7)-lobed, central lobe longer than wide and broadest, (7–)9–15(–25) mm.
1(–7), terminal, sometimes with lateral ones, (50–)70–130(–170) mm, (50–)100–300-flowered, axis eglandular- and glandular-hairy;
bracts oblong to lanceolate, 3–5 mm.
patent or deflexed, (7–)10–18(–24) mm, ± longer than subtending bract, length 3–4(–6) times calyx, eglandular-hairy (densely adaxially).
suberect to patent, 0.5–1(–2) mm, shorter than subtending bract, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.
calyx lobes 3–4 mm, apex acute, sparsely hairy on abaxial surface or glabrous, ciliate with 25–35 hairs per side;
corolla pale violet to whitish, 4–5(–6) mm diam.;
stamens pale violet, 0.4–0.8 mm;
style 0.2–0.7 mm.
calyx lobes 2–3 mm, ciliate, apex obtuse, glandular-hairy, rarely eglandular-hairy;
corolla blue, campanulate, longer than wide, 5–6 mm diam., lobes 3–4.5 × 1.5–2 mm;
stamens 5 mm;
style 8 mm.
± round in cross section, ovoid, 2–3 × 3.5–5 mm, apex ± emarginate, glabrate.
± compressed in cross section, broadly ovoid, 2–3 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse, densely glandular-puberulent.
1–4, bright reddish brown, broadly ovoid to subglobular, urn-shaped, 2.2–2.7 × 2–2.4 mm, 1–1.8 mm thick, transverse ribs inconspicuous, thinner towards margin, margins strongly involute.
3–40, light brown, ellipsoid, flat, 0.6–1.2 × 0.5–0.8 mm, 0.2–0.4 mm thick, smooth.
= 36 (Europe).
= 34, 68 (Europe).
Veronica sublobata
Veronica spicata
Veronica sublobata is closely related to V. hederifolia and has been frequently synonymized with or treated as a subspecies of the latter. It has rarely been reported in the flora area and is surely more widespread than indicated above. It seems to be more rare than V. hederifolia with only about a dozen verified records from seven states. However, its frequent occurrence in cultivated habitats in Europe makes it likely that it has been introduced to the flora area on multiple occasions.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Veronica spicata is widely distributed in horticulture and a multitude of cultivars is available. Some specimens may also be derived from a related species, V. barrelieri Schott ex Roemer & Schultes, differentiated from V. spicata by glabrous calyx lobes, and in its typical variety, by eglandular pubescence. Another closely related species, V. incana Linnaeus, has a dense white woolly indumentum and is native to northern Asia and eastern Europe; it has not escaped from cultivation in the flora area.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
MD Biodiversity
MO Plants
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
