Veronica filiformis

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Veronica filiformis
Slender Speedwell (Veronica filiformis).jpg
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. filiformis
Binomial name
Veronica filiformis
Sm.

Veronica filiformis is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is known by many common names, including slender speedwell, creeping speedwell, threadstalk speedwell and Whetzel weed. It is native to eastern Europe and western Asia, and it is known in many other regions as an introduced species.

Contents

Description

Veronica filiformis flower Faden-Ehrenpreis (Veronica filiformis)-20230419-RM-125228.jpg
Veronica filiformis flower

V. filiformis is a rhizomatous perennial herb producing mats of hairy stems that readily root at nodes that touch substrate. It is self-sterile and rarely seeds, being spread by stolons. [1] The corolla of V. filiformis is four-lobed and blueish with a white tip, around 8–10 mm in diameter, the top lobe being largest since it is actually a fusion of two lobes. At the center are two long, protruding stamens. Solitary flowers occur in leaf axils. They are on relatively long, slender stalks that arise from the leaf axils, and appear between April and July. The leaves, found near the base of the stem, are 5–10 mm across, rounded or kidney-shaped with blunt teeth and short stalks, and smaller on distal parts. [2] It is perennial. [3] In Ireland, the plant was sewn into the clothing of travellers for good luck. [4]

Status and habitat

A native to northern Turkey and the Caucasus, [5] V. filiformis was introduced to the United Kingdom from Turkey in 1808 as a rock garden plant and was first reported as an escape in 1838. [6] It was introduced to the United States nursery trade in the 1920s. [7] It can sometimes be considered a nuisance in lawns, [8] sod, and turf. It is found in gardens, grassy paths and in meadows, [6] where it prefers shade, moist soils, good fertility and a low mowing height.

It reproduces asexually by resprouting from separated sections of stem and rhizome and easily takes hold in new habitat. [9] The plant is used as groundcover in gardens, and valued for its pretty blue flowers, but it is easily dispersed into the environment if it is chopped up, during mowing, for example. [10] It is still cultivated, sold, and used in gardening.

Identification

V. filiformis is similar to other Veronica species, such as V. arvensis and V. chamaedrys , but can be distinguished by the size of its leaves and lack of seed capsules. [1]

Common names

V. filiformis is known by the following common names:

Related Research Articles

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Veronica officinalis, the heath speedwell, common gypsyweed, common speedwell, or Paul's betony, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Europe and western Asia. It has been introduced to North America and is widely naturalised there.

<i>Veronica</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants in the family Plantaginaceae

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<i>Veronica persica</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

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.

<i>Veronica arvensis</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

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<i>Veronica hederifolia</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

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.

<i>Stachys sylvatica</i> Species of herb

Stachys sylvatica, commonly known as hedge woundwort, whitespot, or sometimes as hedge nettle, is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 80 cm (31 in) tall in woodland and unmanaged grassland. In temperate zones of the northern hemisphere it flowers in July and August. The flowers are purple. The leaves, when crushed or bruised, give off an unpleasant fetid smell.

<i>Campanula rapunculoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Campanula rapunculoides, known by the common names creeping bellflower, rampion bellflower, rover bellflower, garden bluebell, creeping bluebell, purple bell, garden harebell, and creeping campanula, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Campanula, belonging to the family Campanulaceae. Native to central and southern Europe and west Asia, in some parts of North America it is an extremely invasive species.

<i>Veronica peduncularis</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Veronica peduncularis, the creeping speedwell, is a flowering plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. Listed under its synonym Veronica umbrosa, its cultivar 'Georgia Blue' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

<i>Veronica serpyllifolia</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Veronica serpyllifolia, the thyme-leaved speedwell or thymeleaf speedwell, is a perennial flowering plant in the plantain family. It is native to Europe, but can be found elsewhere on most continents as an introduced species.

<i>Kickxia elatine</i> Species of flowering plant

Kickxia elatine is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, but it is present on other continents as an introduced species, and sometimes a noxious weed.

<i>Kickxia spuria</i> Species of flowering plant

Kickxia spuria is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae known by several common names, including roundleaf cancerwort and round-leaved fluellen. It is native to Europe and Asia, but it is present on other continents as an introduced species, and sometimes a noxious weed. This is a low hairy herb with a creeping stem with many branches. It produces rounded, fuzzy leaves at wide intervals along the stem, and solitary snapdragon-like flowers. Each flower is up to 1.5 centimeters long with a narrow, pointed spur extending from the back. The lobes of the mouth are yellow, white, and deep purple, and the whole flower is fuzzy to hairy. The fruit is a spherical capsule about 4 millimeters long. This species is similar to its relative, Kickxia elatine, but for the shape of its leaves, and the hairy flower stalk, which is bare with Kickxia elatine.

<i>Veronica derwentiana</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

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.

<i>Passiflora suberosa</i> Species of plant

Passiflora suberosa is a species of passionflower that is native to the Americas. It is commonly known as corkystem passionflower due to the corkiness of older stems. Other common names include corky passion vine, cork-bark passion flower, corkstem passionflower and corky passionfruit. In Latin America it is called Meloncillo. It is possibly also cryptic and have multiple species in one.

<i>Veronica anagallis-aquatica</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

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.

<i>Veronica scutellata</i> Species of flowering plant

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, including most of Canada and the northern half of the United States. It occurs in moist and wet habitats, such as ponds, marshes and other wetlands. It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial producing a decumbent or upright stem 40–60 cm (16–24 in) in maximum height. It is mostly hairless in texture. The purple-green or reddish leaves are oppositely arranged in pairs about the stem, the blades lance-shaped and smooth-edged. The inflorescence is an open array of several flowers on thin, straight pedicels. The flower is up to 1 cm (0.39 in) wide with four lobes, the upper lobe being largest. It is white, blue, or purplish with purple veining. It yields a flat, notched capsule a few millimeters wide.

<i>Veronica perfoliata</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Veronica perfoliata, commonly known as digger's speedwell, is a common perennial herb found at higher altitudes in south-eastern Australia. It is a low-growing multi-stemmed plant rising from a woody rootstock. It has rounded blue-grey foliage and sprays of intense violet-blue flowers at the end of arching branches. It is occasionally cultivated as a garden plant.

<i>Sibthorpia europaea</i> Species of flowering plant

Sibthorpia europaea is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Cornish moneywort. It can be found as a disjunct distribution in Western Europe from the Azores, Portugal and Spain to south-western Ireland and south-western United Kingdom. It also occurs in Crete, Pelion, Greece and tropical Africa. It is a prostrate perennial plant that is found in moist habitats.

<i>Veronica gracilis</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

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.

<i>Phyla canescens</i> Species of flowering plant

Phyla canescens is a species of perennial herbaceous plant in the family Verbenaceae, native to South America. It has been introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant and low-maintenance lawn, but has become naturalised and is considered a serious environmental weed. It is known by several common names including carpet weed, Condamine couch, Condamine curse, fog fruit, frog fruit, hairy fogfruit, lippia, mat grass and no-mow grass.

<i>Veronica catenata</i> Species of plant in the genus Veronica

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. As its common name implies, it prefers growing in or near marshes, rivers, lakes and ponds.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Creeping Speedwell — Veronica filiformis". Michigan State University. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  2. Sterry, Paul (2006). Collins Complete Guide to British Wild Flowers. London: HarperCollins. p. 176. ISBN   978-0-00-723684-8.
  3. Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora Cork University Press ISBN   978-185918-4783
  4. "Slender Speedwell - Veronica filiformis". Weed Free. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  5. "Veronica filiformis". Derby City Council. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Slender speedwell". Garden Organic. October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  7. Sankey, John. "Herbicidal Activity of the Leaves of Veronica filiformis Sm". web.ncf.ca. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 "PLANTS Profile". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  9. Harris, G. R. and P. H. Lovell. (1980). Localized spread of Veronica filiformis, V. agrestis and V. persica. Journal of Applied Ecology 17:3 815-26.
  10. Kaufman, J. E. Chemical control of Veronica filifolia in turfgrass. Michigan Turfgrass Conference 1977.
  11. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.