Plantaginaceae

Veronica L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 9 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Cosmopolitan.

Descriptions

Scrophulariaceae, S.A. Ghazanfar, F.N. Hepper & D. Philcox. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2008

Morphology General Habit
Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes woody at the base
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts sometimes foliose, usually alternate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in terminal or lateral (then main axis continuing vegetative growth) racemes; terminal racemes sometimes elongated with foliose bracts; bracteoles absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx deeply divided into 4(–5) often unequal segments, the fifth posterior segment when present usually smaller
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla rotate to campanulate, with 4 (rarely 5) lobes; tube short, rarely exceeding the calyx; upper and lower lobes often narrower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, inserted on the corolla tube at the sides of the upper lobe, exserted; anther thecae divergent or parallel, obtuse, confluent at the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style with subcapitate stigma
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a loculicidal and sometimes also pseudosepticidal capsule, more or less compressed at right angles to the septum, usually with hairs and venose surface
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds few or many, ellipsoidal or suborbicular, affixed by the inner flat or concave surface, reticulate, sometimes almost smooth, or rugulose on the back, often with a thickened or keeled margin.
Note
It is surprising that only one of the temperate European annual “speedwells” of cultivated ground and lawns has been reported from the Flora area. Others likely to occur are V. polita L., V. peregrina L., and V. arvensis L.  Several species are cultivated as ornamental shrubs in upland gardens and parks: V. longifolia L., V. salicifolia Forst.f., V. speciosa A.Cunn., V. spicata L., and the shrubby species often referred to Hebe.
[FTEA]

M. Thulin. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution
Some 180 species, mainly in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, but some in tropical highlands and some widespread weeds.
Morphology General Habit
Herbs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite below, usually alternate above
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in terminal or axillary racemes, or solitary in the leaf axils
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes 4(–5), often unequal-Corolla rotate; tube short; limb with 4 somewhat unequal lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style filiform, persistent; stigma club-shaped
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a loculicidal and sometimes also septicidal capsule, ± flattened at right angles to the septum
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds usually numerous.
[FSOM]

Scrophulariaceae, D. Philcox. Flora Zambesiaca 8:2. 1990

Morphology General Habit
Annual or perennial herbs, erect, prostrate or decumbent, glabrous or pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite or occasionally verticillate or scattered, entire or variously dentate or crenate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in terminal or axillary racemes or rarely solitary-axillary, bracteate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Pedicels ebracteolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 4- or 5-partite; where present, fifth posterior lobe usually smaller.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla 4–5-lobed; tube short, rarely exceeding calyx.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, perfect, exserted; inserted on corolla tube at sides of upper lobe; anther-thecae divergent or parallel, obtuse.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style apically subcapitate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule compressed or turgid, bisulcate, loculicidal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds few to many.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0