Veronica aphylla, common name leafless stemmed speedwell, is a plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae.

Veronica aphylla
Veronica aphylla at the Giardino Botanico Alpino Chanousia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronica
Species:
V. aphylla
Binomial name
Veronica aphylla

Description edit

Veronica aphylla can reach a height of 3–8 centimetres (1.2–3.1 in). It is a perennial herbaceous plant with a single, erect, cylindrical, hairy, greenish, flowering stem. It forms a basal rosette of green, elliptical or oval, pubescent leaves, 4–10 millimetres (0.16–0.39 in) wide and 8–15 millimetres (0.31–0.59 in) long. Flowers have four blue light petals with darker nerves and two long stamens. They bloom from July to August.

Distribution edit

This species is native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe (Alps, Jura, Carpathians, Iberian Peninsula and the Balkans).

Habitat edit

Veronica aphylla prefers alpine pastures, stony slopes and rocky areas, at elevation of 1,500–2,800 metres (4,900–9,200 ft) above sea level.

References edit