Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains

Veronica L. -- Speedwell

Annuals or perennials with entire to serrate, opposite leaves, or the leaves becoming alternate in the inflorescence. Flowers usually numerous in axillary or terminal racemes; calyx accrescent, deeply 4-parted, the sepals often variable in shape; corolla white, pink, blue or violet, 4-lobed, slightly bilabiate, rotate, the tube much shorter than the limb; stamens 2; styles exsert, persistent in fruit, stigma capitate. Capsule somewhat to strongly flattened, loculicidal, often lobed or notched at the tip.

Reference:
 
Pennell, F. W.  1921.  "Veronica" in North and South America.  
     Rhodora 23:1-22, 29-41.

Lead	Characteristic	Go To
1	Racemes terminal; pedicels 2 mm or less long.	V. peregrina
1	Racemes axillary; pedicels longer than 2 mm.	Lead 2
2	Leaves short-petioled.	V. americana
2	Leaves sessile, often clasping.	Lead 3
3	Capsules turgid, slightly notched at the tip; seeds numerous, 0.5 mm or less long; leaves 1.5-5X longer than wide.	Lead 4
3	Capsules strongly flattened, conspicuously notched at the tip; seeds 5-9 per locule, 1.2-1.8 mm long; leaves (3)4-20X longer than wide.	V. scutellata
4	Leaves 1.5-3X longer than wide; corolla blue or violet; capsules about as wide as long.	V. anagallis-aquatica
4	Leaves (2.5)3-5X longer than wide; corolla white, pink or pale bluish; capsules wider than long.	V. catenata

45. Scrophulariaceae, the Figwort Family

9. Veronica L. -- Speedwell

1. Veronica americana (Raf.) Schwein. ex Benth. -- Brooklime

2. Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. -- Water speedwell

3. Veronica catenata Pennell

4. Veronica peregrina L. -- Purslane speedwell

5. Veronica scutellata L. -- Marsh speedwell

Return to Family -- Scrophulariaceae - The Figwort Family
Return to Contents