Veronica calycina explained

Veronica calycina, commonly known as hairy speedwell or cup speedwell,[1] 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.

Description

Veronica calycina grows is a trailing, perennial herb, with stolons reaching long and rooting at leaf nodes. The flowering stems are up to 5– long with soft stem hairs to long. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, usually hairy, ovate to broadly ovate, 0.7– long and 0.5– wide, apex either rounded or broadly pointed, base squared or slightly heart-shaped, margins with uneven, blunt teeth and a petiole long. The small racemes of pale blue-purple flowers are mostly in groups of up to 10 flowers, occasionally solitary, with four wide petals about long, and corolla long. The calyx lobes have small hairs mostly on the margins, long and wide when fruiting. Flowering occurs in spring and summer.[2]

Taxonomy

Veronica calycina was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[3] [4] The specific epithet (calycina) means "belonging to the calyx".[5]

Distribution

Hairy speedwell is a widespread species, found in all states and territories apart from the Northern Territory. It grows in sheltered forest and shrubland on the coast, ranges and at higher altitudes in shady, moist locations.[1] [2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Veronica calycina . eFlora-Electronic Flora of South Australia . State Herbarium of South Australia . 20 June 2021.
  2. Book: Fairley, Alan . Moore, Philip . Native Plants of the Sydney Region . 2010 . 3nd . Jacana Books . 283 . Crows Nest, New South Wales . 9781741755718.
  3. Web site: Veronica calycina . Australian Plant Name Index . 20 June 2021.
  4. Book: Brown, Robert . Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)

    . Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773) . 1810 . Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . Richard Taylor and Company . London, United Kingdom . Latin . 435 .

  5. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 155 . 3rd.