6. Veronica chamaedrys L. (germander speedwell)

Pl. 489 k, l; Map 2237

Plants perennial, with rhizomes. Stems 10–35 cm long, the main stems prostrate or loosely ascending, the flowering branches sometimes more strongly ascending, moderately to densely pubescent with spreading nonglandular hairs, these mostly confined to a pair of longitudinal lines, at least between the lower nodes. Leaves sessile or nearly so. Leaf blades 1.0–3.5 cm long, 1–2 times as long as wide, ovate to oblong-ovate or broadly ovate, broadest near the base, rounded to bluntly pointed at the tip, broadly rounded to truncate or shallowly cordate at the base, those of the larger leaves usually clasping the stems, the margins unlobed, relatively coarsely and usually bluntly toothed, the surfaces and margins spreading-hairy, less densely so on the upper surface. Inflorescences axillary racemes, these mostly in opposite pairs at the stem nodes (1 per leaf) but often the lowermost alternate, open at maturity, with 10–20 flowers, the bracts 3–7 mm long, much smaller than the foliage leaves, linear to narrowly oblanceolate. Flower stalks 5–9 mm long at flowering (to 12 mm long at fruiting), loosely ascending at fruiting. Calyces 3–5 mm long, the lobes subequal or the lower pair slightly larger than the upper pair, deeply 4-lobed, the lobes linear to narrowly oblong-lanceolate, usually glandular-hairy. Corollas 8–12 mm wide, blue to bluish purple with darker veins, the throat white and often light green toward its base, the lobes spreading to loosely arched upward. Style 3–5 mm long at fruiting. Fruits rarely produced, 3.0–3.5 mm long, wider than long, broadly heart-shaped in profile, flattened, the notch very shallow, the margins with short, gland-tipped hairs, dehiscing along the sutures into 2 valves. Seeds about 6 per locule, 1.0–1.7 mm long, strongly flattened on both sides, the surfaces appearing smooth or nearly so (faintly and finely pebbled), tan to brown. 2n=16, 32. April–June.

Introduced, known thus far only from Boone County (Native of Europe; introduced sporadically but widely in the northeastern and western U.S., Canada). Lawns and gardens.

This taxon was first reported from Missouri by Dunn (1982) as a casual escape in an urban yard.

A superficially similar species that eventually may be recorded from Missouri is V. officinalis L. (common speedwell, common gypsyweed). This native of Europe has escaped from gardens to become widespread in temperate North America, including several of the states surrounding Missouri. It differs from V. chamaedrys in its oval to elliptic or elliptic-obovate leaf blades that are widest at or slightly above the midpoint and angled to a petiolar base; stems with relatively uniform and dense, spreading hairs; flower stalks shorter than the subtending bracts; smaller (4–8 mm wide), lighter blue corollas; and slightly larger (3.5–4.5 mm long) fruits with glandular hairs on the surfaces as well as the margins.