Veronica

Veronica is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Plantaginaceae, with about 500 species; it was formerly classified in the family Scrophulariaceae. Common names include speedwell, bird's eye, and gypsyweed.

The species are herbaceous annuals or perennials, and also shrubs or small trees if Hebe is included. Most of the species are from the temperate Northern Hemisphere, though with some species from the Southern Hemisphere; Hebe is mostly from New Zealand.

Species of Veronica are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera, including the Grizzled Skipper.


USES
American speedwell is edible and nutritious and is reported to have a flavor similar to watercress. Native Americans used Veronica species as an expectorant tea to alleviate bronchial congestion associated with asthma and allergies. The plant can be confused with skullcap and other members of the mint family. Members of the mint family have square sided stems, and Veronica species have rounded stems, and are easily distinguished from skullcap.


Some species
Veronica persica (also Persian speedwell, Large Field Speedwell, or Bird's-eye) is a flowering plant native of Eurasia, but also widespread in the United States, and east Asia.
The seed leaves are broadly triangular cotyledons, with truncated base. The short-stalked leaves are broadly ovate, having coarsely serrated margins. V. persica has weak stems that form a dense, prostrate ground cover. Tips of stems are often ascending. Leaves on the lower stems are paired, but are alternate on the upper portion of the stem. The short-petioled leaves are longer than they are broad and coarsely toothed.
The flowers are sky-blue with dark stripes and a white center, and they are zygomorphic (they only have one plane of symmetry, which is vertical). They are solitary on long, slender, hairy stalks in the leaf axils.

Veronica agrestis or Green Field-speedwell is a plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae.

Veronica polita or Grey Field-speedwell is a plant species of the genus Veronica.

Veronica americana, variously called American brookline or American speedwell, is a plant native to temperate and arctic Asia and North America where it grows in streams and bottomlands.
It is a herbaceous perennial with glabrous stems 10–100 cm long that bear terminal or axillary racemes or spikes of soft violet flowers. The leaves are 1.5-8 cm long and 3 to 20 times as long as wide, short-petiolate, glabrous, serrate to almost entire.

Veronica hederifolia or Ivy-leaved Speedwell

Veronica arvensis (Corn Speedwell, Common Speedwell, Speedwell, Rock Speedwell, Wall Speedwell) is a medicinal plant and noxious weed native to Africa, Asia and Europe.

Veronica beccabunga (Brooklime) is a succulent herb belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. It grows on the margins of brooks and ditches in Europe, North Africa and north and western Asia. It has smooth spreading branches, blunt oblong leaves and small bright blue or pink flowers.

Veronica longifolia (Pseudolysimachion longifolium) is a flowering plant of the genus Veronica in the family Boraginaceae.

Veronica serpyllifolia, thymeleaf or thyme-leaved speedwell is a flowering plant of the genus Veronica in the family Plantaginaceae.

Veronica spicata (Spiked Speedwell) is a species of the genus Veronica.

Veronica chamaedrys (Germander Speedwell) is a species of Veronica, native to Europe and northern Asia. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 25 cm tall, with hairy stems and leaves. The flowers are blue, with a four-lobed corolla.

Veronica traversii (Hebe traversii) is an ornamental plant of the family Plantaginaceae native to New Zealand.

Veronica officinalis (Heath Speedwell, Common Speedwell, Common Gypsyweed, Paul's Betony) is a species of Veronica, native to Europe and western Asia.
It is a herbaceous perennial with hairy green stems 10–50 cm long that cover the ground in mats and send up short vertical shoots which bear soft violet flowers. The leaves are 1.5–5 cm long and 1–3 cm broad, and softly hairy. This speedwell grows in fields and takes hold in areas that have been disturbed. It is a potential weed if its seed gets into collections of agricultural seed, such as alfalfa. Historically the green parts of the plant have been used medicinally for coughs, otitis media, and gastrointestinal distress. The plant is rich in vitamins, tannins, and the glycoside aucuboside. Aucuboside, which is also found in many other Plantaginaceae species, is thought to have antiinflammatory properties. Extracts are widely sold as herbal remedies for sinus and ear infections. It has been introduced to North America and is widely naturalised there.

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