About Veronica spuria L.
Veronica spuria L. is a tall perennial speedwell that reaches 30 to 100 cm in height, and produces long floral spikes bearing blue to purple flowers. It is quite similar to the common familiar garden speedwell, but differs in that its uppermost floral display is much more branched, with numerous flower-bearing branches growing out from leaf bases at lower levels. Compared to garden speedwell, the flowers of Veronica spuria L. are larger, measuring 7–14 mm across versus 4–8 mm across for garden speedwell. Flowers of this species also grow on longer stalks, which measure (2)3–5 mm in length, versus 1–2 mm stalks for garden speedwell. After flowering, plants mature into seed capsules that measure 2.5-4 mm by 2–3 mm. Photographic examples of this species can be viewed on iNaturalist. The native range of Veronica spuria L. includes Altay, Austria, the Baltic States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, East European Russia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Poland, Romania, South European Russia, Tadzhikistan, Ukraine, West Siberia, Xinjiang, and Yugoslavia. It is doubtfully recorded as present in Germany and Italy, and has been introduced to Vermont. In northwestern Xinjiang, this species grows on mountain slopes and in steppes at around 1100 m elevation. In Europe, it inhabits grassy and rocky locations.
