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speedwell, spring speedwell

Steller's speedwell

Habit Annuals. Perennials.
Stems

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

erect to ascending, unbranched, (5–)10–20(–25) 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 ovate, 15–30 × 10–20 mm, base rounded, margins dentate or serrate, apex subacute to subobtuse, surfaces eglandular-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, terminal, 10–60 mm, to 100 mm in fruit, 5–15-flowered, axis hairy;

bracts lanceolate, 2–5 mm.

Pedicels

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

erect, 2–11 mm, equal to longer than subtending bract, crisp-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 4–5 mm, eglandular-ciliate, apex acuminate, glabrous or sparsely hairy;

corolla pale blue or violet, rotate, 8–10 mm diam.;

stamens 7 mm;

style 3–6 mm.

Capsules

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

compressed in cross section, oblong, 5–6(–8) × 3–4.5 mm, longer than wide, apex ± emarginate, glabrous proximally, hairy distally.

Seeds

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

number unknown, brown, ovoid, flat, 1–1.5 × 0.7–1.2 mm, thickness and texture unknown.

2n

= 16 (Eurasia).

= 18 (Japan, Russia).

Veronica verna

Veronica stelleri

Phenology Flowering (Mar–)Apr–Jun(–Aug). Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat Open pine and oak forests, rocky and sandy steppes, pastures, meadows. Dry to moderately moist slopes, meadows in alpine regions, moraines.
Elevation 300–2600 m. (1000–8500 ft.) 0–1800 m. (0–5900 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]
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[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; Asia (Japan, Korea, Russia)
Discussion

Specimens of Veronica verna from Alberta have not been verified.

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

Veronica stelleri may be difficult to differentiate from 4b. V. wormskjoldii subsp. nutans where sympatric.

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

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 317. FNA vol. 17, p. 310.
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. filiformis, V. fruticans, V. grandiflora, V. hederifolia, V. longifolia, V. officinalis, V. peregrina, V. persica, V. polita, V. scutellata, V. serpyllifolia, V. spicata, V. sublobata, V. teucrium, V. triloba, V. triphyllos, V. undulata, V. verna, V. wormskjoldii
Synonyms V. stelleri var. glabrescens, V. wormskjoldii var. stelleri
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 14. (1753) Link: Jahrb. Gewächsk. 1(3): 40. (1820)
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