Germander Speedwell (Veronica melissifolia)
Description
It can grow to 50 cm tall, but is frequently shorter, with stems that are hairy only along 2 opposite sides. The leaves are in opposite pairs, triangular and crenate, sessile or with short petioles. The flowers are deep blue with a zygomorphic (bilaterally-symmetrical) four-lobed corolla, 8 to 12 mm wide. The capsules are wider than they are long. The blossoms of this plant wilt very quickly upon picking, which has given it the ironic name "M-nnertreu", or "men's faithfulness" in German. Germander Speedwell is a common, hardy turf weed when it invades turf and lawns. It creeps along the ground, spreading by sending down roots at the stem nodes. It is propagated both by seed and stem fragments. Leaves may defoliate in the summer and winter but the stems will grow again next season. Unlike at least five other common speedwell turf weeds such as corn speedwell Veronica arvensis), the leaves are opposite both on the upper and lower parts of the plant. See the Veronica for special weed control considerations.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Lamiales
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Family: Plantaginaceae
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Genus: Veronica
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