Species
Veronica filiformis
Etymology
Veronica: Named after Saint Veronica, who gave Jesus her veil to wipe his brow as he carried the cross through Jerusalem, perhaps because the common name of this plant is 'speedwell'. The name Veronica is often believed to derive from the Latin vera 'truth' and iconica 'image', but it is actually derived from the Macedonian name Berenice which means 'bearer of victory'.
filiformis: From the Latin filum 'thread' and forma 'shape', meaning thread-shaped
Common Name(s)
creeping speedwell
Authority
Veronica filiformis Sm.
Family
Plantaginaceae
Brief Description
Soft creeping herb, rooting at nodes; reniform hirsute leaves and crenate margins. Flowers on long pedicels (to 25 mm), pubescent; corolla c.12 mm diameter; calyx remaining after petal fall but fruit not developing in NZ.
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites
Distribution
Very local in NZ, establishing from vegetative material only
Habitat
Lawns, gardens
Similar Taxa
Flower similar to V. persica but plant creeping with reniform (not pointed) leaves. V. persica has abundant fruit with divergent capsule lobes.
Flower Colours
Blue,Violet / Purple
Fruiting
No fruit known in NZ
Propagation Technique
rooted pieces
Year Naturalised
1981
Origin
Asia Minor, Crimea, Caucasia, N. Iran
Reason for Introduction
Maybe ornamental but probably accidental in soil with other plants
This page last updated on 23 Nov 2016