About Veronica officinalis L.
Veronica officinalis L. is a herbaceous perennial plant. It has hairy green stems that are 10–50 cm (4–20 in) long; these stems grow along the ground in mats, and send up short vertical shoots that bear soft violet flowers. Its leaves are 1.5–5 cm (0.6–2.0 in) long and 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) broad, and they are covered in soft hairs. This species flowers from May through August. This speedwell grows in open areas including fields, meadows, and gardens. It is sometimes cultivated as an edible or medicinal herb. Its slightly bitter, astringent taste and tea-like scent led to its use as a tea substitute in 19th-century France, where it was named thé d'Europe, meaning "Europe tea". This term is still used by the French as a name for this plant.
