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ird's-eye speedwell (Veronica persica) flowers are solitary, arising from the axils of upper leaves on 1/2-3/4" long, hairy pedicels with a leaf-like bract at their bases. Individual flowers are about 8 mm across, consisting of a calyx with four lance-shaped sepals that are fused at their bases and are shorter than the corolla lobes, and a tubular corolla with four lobes ("petals") that are round to oval. The corolla is bluish toward the edges and whitish centrally, with dark blue lines radiating from the center. One of the four lobes is slightly smaller (and whiter) than the other three, so the flower is bilaterally symmetrical. A pistil with a single 2-3 mm long style arises from the center of the flower; two white stamens with dark blue anthers flank the pistil. Fertilized flowers produce a two-lobed fruit nestled in the remnants of the calyx, each lobe containing 5-11 small seeds; the fruit is a laterally compressed heart shaped capsule that is longer than tall with a distinct shallow V-shaped groove where the remnants of the style can be seen.

Veronica

Veronica persica

bird's-eye speedwell [Blooms: May]

Wayside speedwell's flowers are 1/4" across with a green, hairy calyx with four triangular lobes as long as the petals, projecting between them in the spaces between petals; a short corolla with four spreading lobes, three the same size (one on either side, blue to bluish-white with dark blue lines, and the third dark blue with blue-violet lines) and one about half as wide, pale blue or white with light blue lines. The blue lines function as nectar guides. The base of all four lobes is bright white, but the center of the flower is greenish. There are two white stamens with white anthers (backed by a dark blue "U" shape) and a single white pistil emerging from the throat of the corolla. The fruits are heart-shaped capsules with two chambers covered with glandular hairs, each containing 8-12 seeds. The flowers and leaves of wayside speedwell are similar to those of bird's-eye speedwell (Veronica persica), but the calyx lobes of bird's-eye speedwell do not project beyond the petals. There are 16 species of the genus Veronica reported from Illinois. I have only seen three (Veronica arvensis, Veronica polita, and Veronica serpyllifolia) in Jackson Park but, given their minute size and inconspicuousness, it seems likely that more remain to be found.

Veronica

Veronica polita

wayside speedwell [Blooms: Apr-Jun]

Thyme-leafed speedwell's upper stems host clusters (racemes) of flowers 2-7" long; flowers may either be opposite or alternate along the stem. Each flower is 1/8-1/4" across with a short (1/4"), slender petiole; at the base of the petiole is an oblong, hairless, leafy bract also about 1/4" long with smooth margins. (Thus, the flowers effectively arise from leaf axils.) Individual flowers consist of a green calyx with four triangular lobes shorter than the petals; a short corolla with four oval petal-like, lobes (the lowest one smaller than the other three); two stamens with purple or white anthers; and a green ovary with a single style. The lobes (petals) are white or pale blue, usually with dark blue lines radiating from the flower's center on the upper three lobes. The fruit is a laterally flattened, heart-shaped capsule 1/4" across with two chambers and a fringe of glandular hairs. When mature, the chambers split open, releasing 50-72 tiny seeds. There are 16 species of the genus Veronica reported from Illinois. I have only seen three (Veronica arvensis, Veronica polita, and Veronica serpyllifolia) in Jackson Park but, given their minute size and inconspicuousness, it seems likely that more remain to be found.

Veronica

Veronica serpyllifolia

thyme-leafed speedwell [Blooms: Apr-?]