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speedwell, spring speedwell

creeping speedwell, slender speedwell, thread-stalk speedwell, véronique filiforme

Habit Annuals. Perennials.
Stems

erect or ascending, (1–)3–15(–20) cm, at least distally glandular- and eglandular-hairy.

creeping, 5–50 cm, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

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.

blade suborbiculate, 4–13 × 4–14 mm, base cordate, margins crenate-serrate, teeth (2 or)3–5(or 6) per side, apex rounded, surfaces sparsely eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy.

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.

1–6, terminal, 50–500 mm, 10–20-flowered, axis sparsely eglandular- and/or glandular-hairy;

bracts suborbiculate, 4–13 mm.

Pedicels

erect, (0.4–)1–3 mm, shorter than subtending bract, length 1/3–1/2 times calyx, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

patent or recurved, (15–)20–30 mm, length 2–5 times subtending bract, eglandular- and glandular-hairy.

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 4–7 mm, 1.5–2.5 mm wide, apex rounded, sparsely glandular-hairy to glabrate;

corolla blue-violet to pale blue and white, 8–14 mm diam.;

stamens 2.1–2.5 mm;

style 3–4 mm.

Capsules

compressed in cross section, obcordiform, 2.5–3.5 × 3.5–5 mm, apex emarginate, eglandular-hairy.

compressed in cross section, subglobular, 3.5–5 × 5.5–6.5 mm, apex emarginate, sinus angle 50–90°, absent or almost smooth, glabrous or glandular-ciliate.

Seeds

8–20(–26), yellowish, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.6 × 0.6–1.3 mm, 0.2 mm thick, smooth to ± rugulose.

(2–)6–14(–18), ochre, ovoid, flat to ± excavate, 1.3–1.7 × 1–1.3 mm, 0.6–0.8 mm thick, rugose to rugulose.

2n

= 16 (Eurasia).

= 14 (Europe).

Veronica verna

Veronica filiformis

Phenology Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Aug). Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Aug).
Habitat Open pine and oak forests, rocky and sandy steppes, pastures, meadows. Moist lawns and meadows, waste fields, stream banks.
Elevation 300–2600 m. (1000–8500 ft.) 0–1000 m. (0–3300 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
CA; CT; DC; DE; ID; MD; MI; NY; OH; OR; PA; VT; WA; WV; BC; ON; QC; Eurasia [Introduced in North America]
[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.)

Veronica filiformis is self-incompatible. In the flora area, plants seldom produce capsules; it is dispersed by stem cuttings. The species is native to subalpine meadows in the Caucasus and northern Turkey.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 317. FNA vol. 17, p. 320.
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. 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. 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: 14. (1753) Smith: Trans. Linn. Soc. London 1: 195. (1791)
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