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Veronica serpyllifolia

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Lamiales Family: Plantaginaceae Genus: Veronica

thyme-leaved speedwell

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Rhizomatous perennial herbs forming clumps.

Stems: Stems ascending to decumbent, 0.5–2(–3) dm long, unbranched or branched below, moderately finely puberulent, sometimes sparsely so.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite, inflorescence Alternate. Blades elliptic to broadly ovate7–15(–20) mm long, 4–13 mm wide. Apex rounded to obtuse. Base broadly cuneate. Surfaces puberulent to glabrous. Margins obscurely crenulate to entire. Petioles 0–6 mm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary in the upper(?) leaf axils, forming a terminal raceme, usually closely spaced, sparsely to moderately puberulent throughout. Flowers bisexual (perfect); Pedicels 2–4(–5.5) mm long, bracts lanceolate to narrowly elliptic. Calyx lobes narrowly obovate to broadly elliptic–oblong, 2.5–3(–3.5) mm long, subglabrous. Corolla pale blue to white, ca. 3 mm long. Stamens 2. Ovary superior, 2-carpellate, with as many cells; ovule placentation axile; stigma capitate.

Fruit: Capsules broadly obcordate; somewhat compressed; 2.3–2.7 mm long; 3.5–4.5 mm wide; margins sparsely puberulent. Seeds pale brown; ca. 0.6–0.7 mm long.

Ploidy: 2n = 14

Habitat: Moist pastures; disturbed areas in mesic to wet forests; subalpine woodlands.

Elevation Range: 820–3,060 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 12 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1250 (K, H); Nagata 1995:13 (L); Starr et al. 2003:32 (EM); Oppenheimer 2006:14 (Mo); Lau & Frohlich 2012:22 (O)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Veronica serpyllifolia Kahuku Ranch; along road to silverswords Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 1129 Hawaii BISH 1976-07-24
2 Veronica serpyllifolia N side of Saddle Road, opposite K-7 near bulldozed area along disturbed roadway; vegetation closed canopied Metrosideros scrub Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4707 Hawaii BISH 1982-11-18
3 Veronica serpyllifolia Mauna Loa; IBSS Keauhou Ranch Preserved_Specimen Adee, K.T. Hawaii BISH
4 Veronica serpyllifolia Kohala Moist pasture. Preserved_Specimen Locally common. Degener, O. 30452 Hawaii BISH 1926-07-28
5 Veronica serpyllifolia Kokee State Park, Mohihi Rd. near Camp Sloggett disturbed roadside Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5367 Kauai BISH 1985-05-26
6 Veronica serpyllifolia N. Kona Distr. Keauhou 2 Ahu. Tr. 63(13); W slopes of Mauna Loa; 0.5-1km NW of Kau benchmark 7477 ft Dry mamane-mixed native trees community with an exotic grass-native shrub understory. Growing on 'a'a. Preserved_Specimen Flower pale blue, 4 cm across, 4 petals w/blue anthers. Warshauer, F.R. 1939 Hawaii BISH 1978-07-06
7 Veronica serpyllifolia Hawaii Volcanoes Nat. Park, Kilauea, Kipuka Puaulu common along trail in mixed moist broadleaf forest Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 44453 Hawaii BISH 1963-11-23
8 Veronica serpyllifolia Hawaii Volcanoes Nat. Park, along Crater Rim Trail, Kilauea Iki Crater, between research area and Thurston Lava Tube Metrosideros forest Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4857 Hawaii BISH 1983-07-26
9 Veronica serpyllifolia Keauhou Ranch, Common herb in pasture and remnant fores kipuka Preserved_Specimen Flowers white with lavendar center. Davis, J. 202 Hawaii BISH 1980-01-30
10 Veronica serpyllifolia Honokaa Moist pasture Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 2235 Hawaii BISH 1926-07-28
11 Veronica serpyllifolia Kohala Mts., access rd. above Waikoloa reservoirs at head of Alakahi Valley, finger of Waipio Valley along stream under bridge. Preserved_Specimen Flowers blue Wagner, W.L. 5523 Hawaii BISH 1985-06-23
12 Veronica serpyllifolia Kau, Kilauea, Hawaii Nat. Park, Bird Park under trees Preserved_Specimen fl. light blue Hosaka, E.Y. 1421 Hawaii BISH 1936-07-03
13 Veronica serpyllifolia End of road near Mohihi River along trail Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 23912 Kauai BISH 1955-09-09
14 Veronica serpyllifolia Hamakua, Kalopa Mt. Park In lawn. Preserved_Specimen Low, mat-forming herb with branchlets rising 6 cm ht. Flrs lilac, 5 mm diam, solitary in axils of reduced leaves. Nagata, K.M. 2924 Hawaii BISH 1984-06-06
15 Veronica serpyllifolia At Waikolu Valley lookout area In lawn. Preserved_Specimen Herb. Roots at nodes; prostrate, with ascending flowering growth; flowers blue & white. Oppenheimer, H.L. 30413 Molokai BISH 2004-03-31
16 Veronica serpyllifolia Hamakua Coast, Laupahoehoe, 2nd turn N of Seaview Service Station; Blair Woods, Ltd. Rd.; runs upward toward south, 2nd transect 0.6 miles above transect 1, which was 0.25 miles above Forest Reserve gate Open Metrosideros ± 100 to 120' tall; some Cheirodendron; Coprosma; Psychotria; Rubus hawaiensis; dense 5 to 6' tall Athyrium sandwichianum ground layer. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 1858 Hawaii BISH 1970-07-22
17 Veronica serpyllifolia Upper Hamakua Ditch Trail, Head of Alakehi Fork off Waipio Valley, Kohala Mts earth ledges Preserved_Specimen prostrate, fls. white, blue marked Fosberg, F.R. 10216 Hawaii BISH 1933-09-03
18 Veronica serpyllifolia East Maui, Waikamoi, end of Waikamoi Flume Rd at shack on Waikamoi Gulch, near cabin. Koolau Forest Reserve In soggy soils. Assoc. vegetation: Metrosideros polymorpha, Hedychium sp. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate herb, <1dm ht, rhizomatous/clump forming; lvs opposite; flowers bluish white, pedicels 2-4mm long, single in upper leaf axils. Starr, F. 10292 Maui BISH 2000-10-29
19 Veronica serpyllifolia Keauhou Ranch, Kau District Growing on ground in disturbed Metrosideros - Acacia koa forest. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate creeping herb. Cuddihy, L.W. 465 Hawaii BISH 1980-05-20
20 Veronica serpyllifolia Kau Distr. Kapapala Ahu. Tr 84(22); S slope of Mauna Loa; 1 km W of Kea Poomoku lava flow Dry koa- ohia mixed native trees community with a mixed grass-native shrub understory. Growing on pahoehoe Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 3827 Hawaii BISH 1979-06-12
21 Veronica serpyllifolia Kapuna Gulch, Pahole Natural Area Reserve. Found along Mokuleia trail Mixed native/alien forest. Preserved_Specimen Small herb scattered along trail. Flowers small, purple and white. Fruits bi-lobed, heart-shaped, flattened. Elmore, M. 139 Oahu BISH 2009-03-31
22 Veronica serpyllifolia Mauka of Kulani Prison, In pastures Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 21858 Hawaii BISH 1952-02-15
23 Veronica serpyllifolia Kalaupapa; Waikolu, Hanalilolilo trail by pipeline junction wet ohia, native tree and shrub forest Preserved_Specimen rhizomatous perennial herb; flowers in upper leaf axil, zygomorphic; 4 petals, white, streaked purple; 2 anthers; style unbranched Hughes, G.D. 1135 Molokai BISH 2005-08-18
24 Veronica serpyllifolia Kilauea Forest, Kau District, in closed Metrosideros-Acacia koa-Cibotium forest. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate creeping herb on ground, flowers white and purple. Cuddihy, L.W. 480 Hawaii BISH 1980-07-22
25 Veronica serpyllifolia Saddle Road, 29 miles from Hilo, Waiakea, S. Hilo Dist wooded kipuka in 1855 lava flow; prostrate on mossy ground Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22384 Hawaii BISH 1946-12-26
26 Veronica serpyllifolia N Hilo Distr. Piha Ahu. Tr 18(49); E slope of Mauna Kea, N of Nauhi Gulch mesic koa - ohia forest with other native trees and a native fern and shrub understory Preserved_Specimen small, yellow flowers Warshauer, F.R. 1330 Hawaii BISH 1977-08-18
27 Veronica serpyllifolia Waimea District; Kokee State Park; John Plews' cabin along Mohihi Rd. ca. 0.5 mi. E. of Kokee Lodge in lawn Preserved_Specimen herb; corolla white with violet markings within. Lorence, D.H. 5597 Kauai BISH 1987-10-13
28 Veronica serpyllifolia N. Hilo, Humuula Sheep Station Preserved_Specimen Prostrate to decumbent herb; fls. light blue. Hosaka, E.Y. 2327 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-13
29 Veronica serpyllifolia Kaalapuuwale (Kealapuali), Kona district Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 229 Hawaii BISH 1911-06-21
30 Veronica serpyllifolia Kealapuali, Kona Preserved_Specimen Fl. white or bluish, 1 petal smaller than the others Forbes, C.N. 230.229 Hawaii BISH 1911-06-21
31 Veronica serpyllifolia Hawaii National Park, Kilauea C.C.C. camp Preserved_Specimen Fls. white with blue markings, anthers blue Fagerlund, G.O. 315 Hawaii BISH 1943-02-10
32 Veronica serpyllifolia Puu Ulaula Shelter Preserved_Specimen Petals white to blue with blue stripes inside Fagerlund, G.O. 768 Hawaii BISH 1943-08-12
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