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speedwell, spring speedwell

American brooklime, American speedwell, véronique d'amérique

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

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
from FNA
ID; IN; MA; MI; MN; MT; NY; OR; WA; WI; WY; BC; NB; NS; ON; PE; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
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)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
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
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. undulata, V. wormskjoldii
V. agrestis, V. alpina, 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. undulata, V. verna, V. wormskjoldii
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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