speedwells

genus Veronica

Member of plantain family (family Plantaginaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

Key features:

racemes axillary or terminal
corolla length, color
pedicel length
leaves petioled or sessile
leaf length:width ratio

axillary racemes

american brooklime
Veronica americana

american brooklime
Veronica americana

10–25 flowers in each axillary raceme
corolla 7–10 mm, purplish blue with dark blue lines; white spot restricted to the inner bowl
petioled leaves
common

blue water-speedwell
Veronica anagallis-aquatica

blue water-speedwell
Veronica anagallis-aquatica

generally > 30 flowers in each axillary raceme
corolla 5–10 mm, pale purple with purple lines
sessile leaves (rarely short-petioled proximally)
leaf length 1.5–3 × width
rare

chain speedwell
Veronica catenata

15–25 flowers in each axillary raceme
corolla 3–5 mm, pink with pale purple lines
sessile leaves
leaf length 3–5 × width
rare

terminal racemes

bright blue speedwell
Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa

1+ flowers in each terminal raceme
corolla 6–7 mm, white, pale blue, or pale purple, with blue or purple lines
pedicels 2.5–7 mm
rare

corn speedwell
Veronica arvensis

corn speedwell
Veronica arvensis

1+ flowers in each terminal raceme
corolla 2–3 mm, blue to purple
rare

hairy purslane speedwell
Veronica peregrina ssp. xalapensis

1+ flowers in each terminal raceme
corolla 2–3 mm, white with no lines
uncommon

bird’s-eye speedwell
Veronica persica

bird’s-eye speedwell
Veronica persica

1+ flowers in each terminal raceme
corolla 8–12 mm, blue to pale purple, with dark blue or purple lines
its lower petal is generally smaller, and the white spot bleeds strongly onto it and somewhat onto the two adjacent petals.
pedicels 15–30 mm
common

slender speedwell
Veronica filiformis

not in Jepson
rare

Toxicity of veronica (Veronica spp.):
0 – Non-toxic.

3 observed taxons / 5 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 15 (12 are research grade)

Locations:

Henry Coe SP: 4
Joseph D. Grant CP: 2
Alum Rock Park, San Jose
Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP
Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve
Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills
Máyyan 'Ooyákma Coyote Ridge OSP
Picchetti Ranch OSP
Pleasanton Ridge RP
Santa Teresa CP
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area

Months:

Feb.: 2
Mar.: 4
Apr.: 6
May: 2
Jun.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora