Veronica filiformis Sm.
creeping speedwell
Prostrate, perennial herb, often mat-forming; stems creeping, rooting at the nodes, filiform, densely puberulent. Petiole 2-4 mm long. Lamina 3-5 × 4-7 mm, broadly reniform or suborbicular, crenate, with appressed hairs; base cordate or subcordate. Fls solitary in axils of lvs similar to vegetative lvs; pedicels puberulent, to 23 mm long, much > lvs. Calyx 2.5-4 mm long; lobes ± elliptic, glandular-hairy, especially on margins, obtuse to ± rounded. Corolla 1-1.5 cm diam., the lowest lobe narrower and deep blue, otherwise pale blue with darker veins. Anthers deep blue. Fr. not seen.
N.: Auckland, Palmerston North.
Asia Minor, Crimea, Caucasia, N. Iran 1981
Roadside grass verges and lawns.
FL Nov-Mar.
V. filiformis is probably a recent accidental introduction from W. Europe where it has become extensively naturalised this century and is considered to be a nuisance in lawns. It is also likely to spread here although it appears that it reproduces only vegetatively. In W. Europe it rarely forms frs.
