Veronica montana

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Veronica montana
Veronica montana kz10.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. montana
Binomial name
Veronica montana
L.

Veronica montana or wood speedwell is a perennial species of flowering plant from the genus Veronica. It also belongs to the family Plantaginaceae. [1]

Contents

Description

Veronica montana is a perennial plant growing up to 20 cm in height. It has a sprawling growth habitat, which helps it spread across the forest floor. The plants stems are covered in tiny, soft glandular hairs. Stems can produce roots when contact with damp soil is made. The leaves are ovate, toothed and are also covered in hairs. They appear in symmetrical pairs along the plants stem. The plant hosts multiple lilac coloured flowers from late spring to early summer. Flowers are rather small at around 7mm across. [2]

Photographic examples can be seen on iNaturalist.

Similar species include Veronica chamaedrys (whose leaves are duller, hairier, narrower and commonly almost unstalked, with hairs usually focussed in two lines on the stems) and Veronica persica (whose flowers are solitary and emerge from the stem with the leaf stalks)

Distribution

The species native range is from Europe to Western Transcaucasus, Northwestern Africa. [1]

The following ranges are indicated: Albania, Algeria, Austria, Baltic states, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corsica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, North Caucasus, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sicily, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Caucasus, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Yugoslavia. [1]

Habitat

Wood speedwell is commonly associated with long-established, damp deciduous woodland, where it is generally found in lowland habitats. [3] V. montana is also known to inhabit areas with neutral to mildly acidic soils. [4]

Another habitat it can be found is within shaded hedgerows [4] where it can also find its way into gardens.

This species can grow within a wide range of substrates from loam, heavy clay and sandy soils. [4]

Related Research Articles

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

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<i>Luzula sylvatica</i> Species of flowering plant in the rush family Juncaceae

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

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.

<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 in a variety of wet habitats.

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

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

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

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.

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

Veronica verna is a species of flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family known as spring speedwell. It is native to Europe, south-western Asia and Morocco, but introduced to some parts of the United States.

<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.

<i>Veronica ciliolata</i> Species of flowering plants

Veronica ciliolata, commonly known as the fringed speedwell or small speedwell, is a species of flowering plant native to New Zealand. It belongs to the family Plantaginaceae and is known for its delicate fringed petals and compact growth habit.

Veronica grisebachii is a small flower in the family Plantaginaceae native from Bulgaria to Turkey.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Veronica montana L." Plants of the World Online. Kew Science. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. "UK Wildflowers - Plantaginaceae - Veronica Montana, Wood Speedwell". uksouthwest.net. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  3. Clive Stace, New Flora of the British Isles 4th edition 2019, p 621
  4. 1 2 3 "Seasonal Wild Flowers - Wood Speedwell". seasonalwildflowers.com. Retrieved 2022-03-14.