Veronica (plant)
| Veronica | |
|---|---|
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| Veronica chamaedrys | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Veronica L. |
| Species | |
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See text. |
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Veronica is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Plantaginaceae, with about 500 species; it was formerly classified in the family Scrophulariaceae. Taxonomy for this genus is currently being reanalysed, with the genus Hebe and the related Australasian genera Derwentia, Detzneria, Chionohebe, Heliohebe, Leonohebe and Parahebe included by many botanists. Common names include speedwell, bird's eye, and gypsyweed.
The species are herbaceous annuals or perennials, and also shrubs or small trees if Hebe is included. Most of the species are from the temperate Northern Hemisphere, though with some species from the Southern Hemisphere; Hebe is mostly from New Zealand.
Species of Veronica are used as food plants by the larvae of some species of Lepidoptera, including the Grizzled Skipper.
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[edit] Uses and edibility
Veronica americana is edible and nutritious and is reported to have a flavor similar to watercress. Native Americans used Veronica species as an expectorant tea to alleviate bronchial congestion associated with asthma and allergies. The plant can be confused with skullcap and other members of the mint family. Members of the mint family have square sided stems, and Veronica species have rounded stems, and are easily distinguished from skullcap.[1]
[edit] Weed
Several species of speedwell invade lawns.[2] Some of the more common of these are Persian (veronica speedwell or birdseye speedwell)[3], Creeping speedwell, Corn Speedwell (Veronica arvensis), Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys), and ivyleaf speedwell. It is often difficult to tell one species from another. A comparison photo of three of the common weed species is here. There are five-to-seven species of speedwell in Michigan alone that are easily confused.[4]
The turf invading speedwell species have a fine, fibrous root system, bright green roundish, oval, or heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. The leaves are often tiny, with some being under 1/4 inch long, the flowers are typically very small and are blue or bluish-white in color. In all the weed species but one, the leaves are alternate near the end of (flowering) stems, but the leaves are opposite near the base.[5]
Because most varieties are somewhat resistant to the selective herbicides such as 2,4-D amine and they all prefer thinning (and often shady or moist) turf, a recommended method of control to improve turf growing conditions. Having fine fibrous roots, they are not difficult to individually pull from wet soil, taking care to remove the entire stem and any branches. Pre-emergent herbicides are usually effective against the seeding, non-creeping annual varieties. If one can precisely identify the species of both weed and turf, often an effective selective combination or triple herbicide can be found.[6] The common non-selective herbicides are also very effective, but kills lawns and turf.[7][8][9]
[edit] Species
[edit] References
- ^ Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1
- ^ Corn Speedwell. TurfFiles.
- ^ Persian speedwell. Weed Gallery. U.C. Davis.
- ^ http://www.msuturfweeds.net/details/_/creeping_speedwell_2/
- ^ Fred Yelverton, 2007, North Carolina State University http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Keywords/corn_speedwell.aspx#IS004157
- ^ http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/weeds/Speedwell_Corn.aspx
- ^ North Carolina State University http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Keywords/corn_speedwell.aspx#IS004157
- ^ http://lawncare.about.com/od/weedprofiles/p/speedwell.htm
- ^ http://www.greenviewfertilizer.com/articles/weed-control
- ^ "Rare plant in forest has botanists bamboozled". New Zealand Herald. 10 November 2009.
