Veronica verna |
Veronica polita |
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speedwell, spring speedwell |
gray field speedwell, gray speedwell |
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Habit | Annuals. | Annuals. |
Stems | erect or ascending, (1–)3–15(–20) cm, at least distally glandular- and eglandular-hairy. |
creeping to decumbent, 5–20(–40) cm, eglandular-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 to ovate, rarely oblong-ovate, (3–)6–11(–14) × (3–)4–9(–10) mm, base truncate, margins serrate to dentate, teeth 2–4 per side, apices usually rounded, apex acute to obtuse, abaxial surface densely hairy, adaxial sparsely hairy to glabrate. |
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. |
1–4, terminal, 50–200(–400) mm, 5–20-flowered, axis sparsely to densely hairy or glabrate; bracts suborbiculate to ovate, (3–)6–11(–14) mm. |
Pedicels | erect, (0.4–)1–3 mm, shorter than subtending bract, length 1/3–1/2 times calyx, eglandular- and glandular-hairy. |
usually semicircularly recurved, (3–)6–13(–15) mm, 0.5–1.5 times subtending bract, densely eglandular-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 broadly ovate, (3–)4–6(–7) mm, 2.6–3.8 mm wide, apex acute, eglandular-hairy, rarely glandular-hairy; corolla intense dark to bright blue, rarely pale lilac or white, with darker nerves, abaxial 1/2 often brighter to whitish, (3–)4–7(–8) mm diam.; stamens 0.5 mm; style (0.5–)1–1.6(–1.8) mm. |
Capsules | compressed in cross section, obcordiform, 2.5–3.5 × 3.5–5 mm, apex emarginate, eglandular-hairy. |
± round in cross section, obcordiform, (2.5–)3–4(–4.5) × (3.5–)4–6(–6.3) mm, apex emarginate, sinus angle 20–60(–80)°, densely eglandular-hairy, sometimes also glandular-puberulent, rarely glabrous. |
Seeds | 8–20(–26), yellowish, ellipsoid, flat, 0.9–1.6 × 0.6–1.3 mm, 0.2 mm thick, smooth to ± rugulose. |
(7–)16–24(–30), pale yellow, ellipsoid to ovoid, deeply cymbiform, 0.9–1.6 × (0.5–)0.8–1.3 mm, 0.4–0.8 mm thick, rugose-cristate. |
2n | = 16 (Eurasia). |
= 14 (Eurasia). |
Veronica verna |
Veronica polita |
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Phenology | Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Aug). | Flowering (Feb–)Mar–Jun(–Jul). |
Habitat | Open pine and oak forests, rocky and sandy steppes, pastures, meadows. | Fields, ruderal places, calcareous soils, lawns. |
Elevation | 300–2600 m. (1000–8500 ft.) | 0–600 m. (0–2000 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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AL; AR; AZ; CO; CT; DC; FL; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MO; NC; NE; NY; OH; OK; PA; TN; TX; VA; WI; WV; MB; NB; ON; Eurasia; nw Africa (Algeria, Morocco) [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, s South America]
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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.) |
Plants of Veronica polita are similar to those of the more frequent V. persica and are probably frequently overlooked. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 17, p. 317. | FNA vol. 17, p. 319. |
Parent taxa | Plantaginaceae > Veronica | Plantaginaceae > Veronica |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 14. (1753) | Fries: Novit. Fl. Svec., 63. (1819) |
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