Showing posts with label Veronica hederifolia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Veronica hederifolia. Show all posts

Friday, April 1, 2011

Ivyleaf Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia)

I was wandering around the trailhead at the Rock and Shoals Outcrop Natural Area. Chickweed (Stellaria media) was just starting to bloom. Then I spotted some blue flecks among the chickweed plants. Immediately, I recognized them as speedwells and thought they were Bird-eye Speedwell (Veronica persica) that I had seen previously at Fort Yargo State Park. Upon closer inspection, these were different.

Veronica hederifolia is known by the common names Ivyleaf Speedwell. This species is one of four Veronica species that may grow in the Piedmont area of Georgia. Similar to the Bird-eye Speedwell, Veronica hederifolia flowers are less than 1/4-inch in diameter. In contrast to Veronica persica, the leaves and stems of Veronica hederifolia have prominent hairs.

The patch of Chickweed (Stellaria media) with Ivyleaf Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) flowers appearing as specks of blue.

An individual flower.

A stem, approximately 6 inches high, with leaves and buds.

Closeup view of the leaf. The hairs on the stem and leaf are prominent.

Closeup of a bud starting to open.

Similar to Bird-eye Speedwell (Veronica persica), Ivyleaf Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) is native to Eurasia. In contrast to the Veronical persica which grows throughout the U.S. and Canada, Veronica hederifolia grows throughout most of the eastern United States, the British Columbia and the U.S. Pacific states and .Utah. It has only been documented in a five counties in Georgia: Elbert, Madison, Clarke, Oconee, and Floyd.

Click on an image to view a larger image


Distribution Map:
- United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database: Veronica hederifolia (Ivyleaf Speedwell)

compare with Veronica persica (Birdeye Speedwell)
-
University of North Carolina Herbarium: Veronica hederifolia

Identification resources:

- Southeastern Flora: Ivyleaf Speedwell (Veronica hederifolia)

- Compare with Bird-eye Speedwell (Veronica persica)


Related posts:

- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower

- Bird-eye Speedwell (Veronica persica)