What is Persian speedwell? Introducing this herbaceous plant

Flowers & Gardening Jan 1, 1970By Emily Carter 0 views

Persian speedwell is an annual to biennial herbaceous plant of the Scrophulariaceae family. It is fairly widely distributed in our country, and even more common in the south. It mostly grows in fields and along roadsides, and its flowers are elegantly colored and very beautiful.

Other names for Persian speedwell

Persian speedwell, Latin scientific name Veronica persica Poir.

Family and genus of Persian speedwell

Scrophulariaceae, genus Veronica

Geographical distribution of Persian speedwell

Native to western Asia through Iran and Europe. At present in our country it is mainly distributed in East China, Central China and the western regions.

Morphological characteristics of Persian speedwell

Persian speedwell is a much-branched herb, and the surface of the plant is covered with soft hairs. The stems branch from the base, with the lower part lying prostrate on the ground; the leaves are opposite at the base of the stem and alternate on the upper part. The leaves come in 2-4 pairs, ovate or round, with short petioles, a shallowly heart-shaped leaf base, bluntly toothed leaf margins, and sparse soft hairs on both the upper and lower surfaces. The flowers of Persian speedwell are solitary in the bract axils, the corolla is pale blue, and the petals have radiating dark blue stripes; the bracts are alternate, the same shape as the leaves and similar in size. The capsule is kidney-shaped, covered with glandular hairs on the surface, almost hairless when mature, with fairly obvious reticulate veins and rather blunt lobes. The back of the seed has a relatively deep transverse ridge, and the flowering period is in 3-5month.

Persian speedwellhorticultural value

Persian speedwell has two periods of vigorous growth, at the end of 11 and in 3~4 of the following year. Because Persian speedwell has a very strong ability to reproduce asexually, it can be planted on bare ground surfaces, where it can quickly cover the ground.

Main harm of Persian speedwell

As an invasive species, Persian speedwell reproduces very quickly because it has no natural enemies, and it harms the seedlings of summer-ripening crops and autumn crops; many kinds of root pathogens parasitize this plant and spread to other crops.

Flower language of Persian speedwell

Health.