Veronica verna |
Veronica americana |
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speedwell, spring speedwell |
American brooklime, American speedwell, véronique d'amérique |
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Habit | Annuals. | Perennials. |
Stems | erect or ascending, (1–)3–15(–20) cm, at least distally glandular- and eglandular-hairy. |
decumbent or ascending, 5–50 cm, glabrous. |
Leaves | 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. |
petiole 2–6(–10) mm; blade ovate to lanceolate, widest proximal to middle, (5–)30–50(–100) × (3–)7–20(–30) mm, 2–4 times as long as wide, base truncate, rounded or almost cordate, abruptly turning into petioles, margins entire or serrate, apex obtuse-orbicular or acute, surfaces glabrous. |
Racemes | 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. |
1–8, axillary, 30–100 mm, (3–)10–30-flowered, axis glabrous; bracts lanceolate, 3–6 mm. |
Pedicels | erect, (0.4–)1–3 mm, shorter than subtending bract, length 1/3–1/2 times calyx, eglandular- and glandular-hairy. |
patent, 3–10(–12) mm, equal to ± longer than subtending bract, glabrous. |
Flowers | 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. |
calyx lobes 2–5(–6) mm, apex acute, glabrous; corolla pink or sky blue, 4–10 mm diam.; stamens 2–4 mm; style (1.7–)2.5–3.5(–4) mm. |
Capsules | compressed in cross section, obcordiform, 2.5–3.5 × 3.5–5 mm, apex emarginate, eglandular-hairy. |
slightly compressed in cross section, globular, 2–4 × 3–5 mm, apex not or ± emarginate, glabrous. |
Seeds | 8–20(–26), yellowish, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.6 × 0.6–1.3 mm, 0.2 mm thick, smooth to ± rugulose. |
20–30, brownish, ellipsoid to ovoid, indistinct-compressed or planoconvex, 0.5–0.7 × 0.3–0.6 mm, thickness varies due to compression in capsule, indistinctly wrinkled or ± rugose. |
2n | = 16 (Eurasia). |
= 36. |
Veronica verna |
Veronica americana |
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Phenology | Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Aug). | Flowering May–Aug. |
Habitat | Open pine and oak forests, rocky and sandy steppes, pastures, meadows. | Slowly flowing waters, banks, sand bars, gravel flood plains, moist soils, springs, ditches, swamps, marshes. |
Elevation | 300–2600 m. (1000–8500 ft.) | 0–3600 m. (0–11800 ft.) |
Distribution |
ID; IN; MA; MI; MN; MT; NY; OR; WA; WI; WY; BC; NB; NS; ON; PE; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
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AK; AR; AZ; CA; CO; CT; DE; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; UT; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY; AB; BC; MB; NB; NF; NS; NT; ON; PE; QC; SK; YT; Mexico; Asia (Japan, Russia)
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Discussion | Specimens of Veronica verna from Alberta have not been verified. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Although difficult to separate, Veronica beccabunga and V. americana are maintained as species here. Evidence suggesting separate species status is different ploidy level (the tetraploid level is rare in V. beccabunga) and the occurrence of V. americana in more natural habitats. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 17, p. 317. | FNA vol. 17, p. 313. |
Parent taxa | Plantaginaceae > Veronica | Plantaginaceae > Veronica |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | V. beccabunga var. americana | |
Name authority | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 14. (1753) | Schweinitz ex Bentham: in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 10: 468. (1846) |
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