Green field speedwell
Scientific name: Veronica agrestis
Family name: Plantaginaceae
MORPHOLOGY
Habit and dimensions: annual herbaceous plant. It reaches a height ranging from 5 to 40 centimeters.
Stem: prostrate ascending and generally branched.
Leaves: opposite, with a blade that ranges from oval to sub-rounded. The margin is more or less deeply crenate and the surface has small hairs.
Flowers: arranged in terminal raceme inflorescences, with a maximum of 10 – 30 flowers. Individual flowers are hermaphroditic and pentamerous. They appear between February and October, with petals of blue, violet, or light blue color.
Fruits and seeds: heart-shaped capsules, slightly compressed, with two parallel and rounded lobes. They have small and few glandular hairs and release 8 to 14 yellowish or light brown, opaque seeds when they open.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
A plant native to Europe, present in almost all regions of Italy from sea level up to about 1,500 meters in altitude. It grows in cultivated fields, gardens, pastures, and meadows, preferring soils poor in lime and cold, humid environments.
USE
No known use.
INTERESTING FACTS
While the etymology of the genus is uncertain, the specific epithet derives from ager (= field), referring to the habitat where the species is often found.
Photo: Under free license from Saxifraga – Peter Meininger and Rutger Barendse.
