Veronica catenata | |
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In Austria | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Plantaginaceae |
Genus: | Veronica |
Species: | V. catenata |
Binomial name | |
Veronica catenata | |
Veronica catenata, the pink water speedwell, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Canada, the United States, Europe, the Azores, and northern Africa. [2] [3] As its common name implies, it prefers growing in or near marshes, rivers, lakes and ponds. [4]
A perennial branching herbaceous plant with erect and creeping stems, the latter rooting freely at the nodes. It grows to about 30 cm tall with green to purplish stems, usually glabrous but sometimes hairy. Plants occur on bare ground around ponds and in wetland areas, after the water has receded, or in open (usually still) water. Underwater plants are brownish in colour and have a different appearance to the terrestrial plants. [5]
The leaves are opposite and decussate (arranged alternately at right-angles), and semi-amplexicaul (clasping the stem at their bases). Leaves can vary greatly in size, from 1 to 15 cm in length and 0.3 - 3 cm in width. Aerial leaves are dark green above and paler beneath, and more-or-less lanceolate in shape, narrowing gradually from a wide base to a pointed tip. They are entire or slightly serrated towards the tip. [5] [6]
The inflorescences arise from the leaf bases, usually in opposite pairs. Each one can have up to 50 flowers on short (5 mm) pedicels, which are typically shorter than the bracts that subtend them. The flowers are up to 10 mm in diameter, bisexual, with 4 pink corolla lobes (petals) with deeper pink lines, and 4 green calyx lobes (sepals). There are 2 stamens with blueish anthers and 1 style with a round stigma. [5]
The fruits are heart-shaped capsules, 2-3 mm across, which open into 4 valves containing numerous pale brown seeds that are flat on one side, rounded on the other. [5]
Photographic examples can be seen on iNaturalist.
Similar species include Veronica anagallis-aquatica (with purply-blue flowers), Veronica anagalloides (with elliptic fruits), Veronica × lackschewitzii (fruits fail to form, frequently very large plants) and also Veronica scardica and Veronica beccabunga.
The following subspecies are accepted: [2]
Althaea officinalis, the marsh mallow or marshmallow, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, which is used in herbalism and as an ornamental plant. A confection made from the root since ancient Egyptian times evolved into today's marshmallow treat, but most modern marshmallow treats no longer contain marsh-mallow root.
Veronica persica is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. Common names include birdeye speedwell, common field-speedwell, Persian speedwell, large field speedwell, bird's-eye, or winter speedwell. It is native to Eurasia and is widespread as an introduced species in the British Isles, North America, eastern Asia, including Japan and China, and Australia and New Zealand.
Nuphar lutea, the yellow water-lily, brandy-bottle, or spadderdock, is an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae, native to northern temperate and some subtropical regions of Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. This species was used as a food source and in medicinal practices from prehistoric times with potential research and medical applications going forward.
Veronica hederifolia, the ivy-leaved speedwell, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Europe, western Asia and north Africa and it is present in other places as an introduced species and a common weed. Solitary blue flowers occur in leaf axils, each with a corolla up to one centimetre (0.4 in) wide. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule.
Veronica polita, the grey field-speedwell is a species of flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family. It is native to Europe, southwestern Asia, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and a few nearby countries, and has been introduced to many countries worldwide particularly as a weed of cultivation.
Grevillea acanthifolia, commonly known as the Acanthus-leaved grevillea, is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a shrub with stiff, prickly, divided leaves and pink to purple "toothbrush" flowers.
Grevillea bipinnatifida, commonly known as fuchsia grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub, usually with bipinnatifid leaves and loose clusters of dull pink to crimson flowers.
Veronica serpyllifolia, the thyme-leaved speedwell or thymeleaf speedwell, is a perennial flowering plant in the plantain family. The species as a whole is native mostly to Eurasia & North America, and has three variants with their individual ranges; var. serpyllifolia has particularly spread beyond its native range.
Grevillea hookeriana, commonly known as red toothbrushes or Hooker's grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading to erect shrub, usually with linear leaves or deeply divided leaves with linear lobes, and toothbrush-shaped groups of red, black or yellowish green flowers, the style maroon to black.
Fumaria muralis, known as common ramping-fumitory or wall fumitory, is a flowering herbaceous plant in the poppy family (Papaveraceae) native to western Europe and northwestern Africa.
Grevillea sarissa, commonly known as wheel grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is native to South Australia and Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub, usually with linear leaves, and more or less erect, wheel-like to more or less spherical clusters of red or yellow flowers.
Veronica derwentiana, commonly known as Derwent speedwell, is a flowering plant species of the family Plantaginaceae, endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a perennial with toothed leaves and white or pale blue flowers in terminal sprays in spring and summer.
Persicaria amphibia is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by several common names, including longroot smartweed, water knotweed, water smartweed, and amphibious bistort. It is native to much of North America, Asia, Europe, and parts of Africa, and it grows elsewhere as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed.
Veronica anagallis-aquatica is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae known by the common names water speedwell, blue water-speedwell,brook pimpernel.
Veronica scutellata is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by the common names marsh speedwell, skullcap speedwell, and grassleaf speedwell. It is native to temperate Asia, Europe, northern Africa, and northern North America in a variety of wet habitats.
Potamogeton obtusifolius, known as blunt-leaved pondweed, is an aquatic plant in the genus Potamogeton. It grows mainly in mesotrophic to eutrophic lakes, ponds and ditches, rarely in brackish water. It occurs primarily in Central Europe, the British Isles, Fennoscandia and eastern North America.
Veronica calycina, commonly known as hairy speedwell or cup speedwell, is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is a trailing perennial with dark green leaves, purple-blue flowers and is endemic to Australia.
Grevillea dryandri is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is a spreading to erect shrub with divided leaves with up to seventy or more linear to narrowly elliptic leaves, and long clusters of red, orange-red, pink or white flowers.
Eremophila rostrata is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with cylinder-shaped leaves, small sepals and glabrous, pink to deep red petals. There are two subspecies, both of which are critically endangered.
Veronica gracilis is a plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae, commonly known as slender speedwell. It is a perennial herb with slender branches, variable shaped leaves and small lilac flowers in spring and summer.
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