What kind of plant is Veronica persica, and what are its identifying features?

Other names for Veronica persica

Persian speedwell, Latin scientific name Veronica persica Poir.

Family and genus of Veronica persica

Scrophulariaceae, genus Veronica

Geographical distribution of Veronica persica

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

Morphological features of Veronica persica

Veronica persica is a much-branched herbaceous plant, with soft hairs on the surface of the plant. The stem branches from the base, with the lower part lying prostrate on the ground; the leaves are opposite at the base of the stem, and the upper leaves are alternate. The leaves come in 2-4 pairs, oval or round in shape, 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 Veronica persica are borne singly in the leaf axils, the corolla is light blue, and the petals have radial 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. There is a fairly deep transverse wrinkle on the back of the seed, and the flowering period is from 3-5months.

Veronica persica horticultural value

Veronica persica has two periods of vigorous growth, at the end of 11 and in 3~4 of the following year. Because Veronica persica has a very strong ability for asexual reproduction, Persian speedwell can be planted on bare ground, where it can quickly cover the surface.

Main harm caused by Veronica persica

As an invasive species, Veronica persica, having no natural enemies, reproduces very quickly and will harm the seedlings of summer-ripening crops and autumn crops; a variety of root pathogens will parasitize this plant and spread to other crops.

Flower meaning of Veronica persica

Health.