Veronica serpyllifolia L.
turf speedwell
Perennial with shortly decumbent vegetative shoots, rooting at nodes and often forming mats; flowering stems ± erect and ascending to c. 25 cm, puberulent. Petioles very short. Lamina 5-17 × 4-15 mm, broadly ovate, broadly elliptic or orbicular, glabrous, slightly crenulate; base and apex ± rounded. Infl. a narrow, elongated, terminal raceme; peduncle and pedicels puberulent; pedicels 2-6 mm long; lower bracts leaflike; upper bracts becoming smaller and narrower, oblong, entire, > pedicels. Calyx 2-3 mm long; lobes elliptic or ovate-elliptic, glabrous or almost so, obtuse. Corolla c. 8 mm diam., white or very pale blue, with fine dark blue veins. Capsule c. 4 mm wide, obcordate, sometimes ciliolate; nerves inconspicuous. Seeds oblong to ellipsoid, strongly flattened.
N.; S.; St.: widespread and very common.
Macaronesia, temperate Eurasia 1864
Most common around margins of small lakes, streams and swamps in low vegetation, often abundant in wet grassy areas, including pastures and lawns, also in wet flushes and bogs, to c. 1250 m.
FL Jan-Dec.
