Veronica bullii

Last updated

Veronica bullii
Veronica bullii.jpg
Besseya bullii.jpg
Status TNC G3.svg
Vulnerable  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronica
Species:
V. bullii
Binomial name
Veronica bullii
Synonyms [1]
  • Besseya bullii(Eaton) Rydb.
  • Gymnandra bulliiEaton
  • Synthyris bullii(Eaton) A. Heller
  • Wulfenia bullii(Eaton) Barnhart

Veronica bullii is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names kittentails and Bull's coraldrops. It is native to the Upper Midwest of the United States, including the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.

Contents

Description

Veronica bullii forms a low-lying rosette of basal leaves that are large, covered with fine hairs, and many-veined. The yellowish flowers are arranged into a spike that is densely packed when flowers are blooming and well-separated when in fruit. [2] The stem leaves are greatly reduced, arranged alternately, and partly clasp the stems. The flowers are sessile with two lips, and the lower lip of each flower corolla is unlobed or divided into two or three lobes. [3] Two long stamens protrude past the corolla lobes. Flowering occurs in April through June and the flowering stems remain after flowering until the end of summer. [4] [5] Pollinated flowers develop hairy two-lobed capsules that open at the top when ripe. [3]

Habitat

Veronica bullii is limited to specific habitats, preferring gravelly soils in prairies, grasslands, savannas, and woodlands. [6]

Distribution

Veronica bullii is endemic to the Midwestern region of the United States where it is rare or endangered over its entire range and likely extinct in Ohio. [6] It occurs in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. [4]

References

  1. "Veronica bullii (Eaton) M.M.Mart.Ort. & Albach". The World Flora Online. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  2. Hufford, Larry D. "Synthyris bullii". Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  3. 1 2 Hilty, John (2020). "Kittentails". Illinois Wildflowers. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  4. 1 2 NatureServe. "Synthyris bullii". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
  5. "Besseya bullii". Center for Plant Conservation. October 26, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-10-26.
  6. 1 2 Barbara Coffin; Lee Pfannmuller (1988). Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. U of Minnesota Press. p. 59. ISBN   978-0-8166-1689-3.