blue water-speedwell

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• blue water-speedwell
• blue water speedwell
• brook pimpernel
• water speedwell
• Blue Water-Speedwell
• brook-pimpernel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. anagallidiformis
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. anagallidiformis
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. oxycarpa
• Veronica aquatica f. subeglandulosa
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. elata
• Veronica pseudoanagalloides
• Veronica breviramosa
• Veronica divaricatoramosa
• Veronica pseudocatenata
• Veronica pseudoscardica
• Veronica lepida
• Beccabunga anagallis-aquatica
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. savatieri
• Veronica montioides
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica f. minuta
• Veronica osiliensis
• Veronica secunda
• Veronica oxycarpa
• Veronica transiens
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. brittonii
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. terrea
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. cordata
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. lepida
• Veronica scardicoides
• Veronica reyesana
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. divaricata
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. nilotica
• Veronica anagallidiformis
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. terrestris
• Veronica indica
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. integrifolia
• Veronica glandifera
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. lancifolia
• Veronica lysimachioides
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. stolonifera
• Veronica graminea
• Cardia amplexicaulis
• Veronica kovacsii
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. laevipes
• Veronica linkiana
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. pubescens
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. transiens
• Veronica michauxii
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. latifolia
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. montioides
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. bracteosa
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. calycina
• Veronica beccabungoides
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. neilreichii
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. lysimachioides
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subvar. grandiflora
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. pubescens
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subvar. hirtula
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. neilreichii
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. humilis
• Veronica espadanae
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. pseudoanagallioides
• Veronica brittonii
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. transiens
• Veronica bobrovii
• Veronica aquatica var. obtusifolia
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. simplex
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. anagallis-aquatica
• Veronica michauxii var. glabra
• Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. michauxii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Lamiales and the family Plantaginacea, falling within the genus Veronica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Its presence is also documented throughout the landscapes of Finland. Additionally, this species is distributed across the islands of Iceland and Great Britain. Finally, the plant is also known to inhabit the natural environments of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Veronica anaGallis-aquatica is characterized by its specialized preference for aquatic riparian habitats, where it thrives in moist, water-adjacent environments. This species exhibits a remarkably broad altitudinal distribution, spanning a vast vertical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to extreme high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 4000 m AMSL. With an elevational mean of approximately 4000 m AMSL, the plant demonstrates a significant capacity to adapt to the unique physiological demands of high-elevation alpine or sub-alpine hydrological systems, while remaining equally capable of colonizing lowland riparian zones.

Elevational range max:

4000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

aquatic riparian

Life history

The life history of Veronica anagallis-aquatica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a specialized hydrophyte, it is evolutionarily adapted to aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, often occupying niches where water is a constant presence. Its biological structure is categorized as a cryptophyte, meaning it relies on protected underground or submerged buds to survive unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its vegetative structures throughout the year rather than shedding them seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Veronica anagallis-aquatica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This species exhibits a self-supporting structure, lacking any climbing or parasitic tendencies, and functions as an independent organism. The plant's habit is predominantly terrestrial, rather than aquatic or epiphytic, and it features an ascending shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.279 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.279 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Veronica anagallis-aquatica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake through its root system rather than specialized leaf structures for prey capture, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The morphological dimensions of its foliage reflect a significant degree of variability; the leaves exhibit a mean length of 6 cm, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 12.5 cm. The leaf width also shows considerable fluctuation, maintaining a mean of 2.25 cm, with a minimum width of 0.4 cm and a maximum width of 4.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of 22.85 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 332 cm²/g, a physiological indicator that provides insight into its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies relative to its photosynthetic capacity.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

12.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

22.85 cm²

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.25 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

332 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Veronica anagallis-aquatica is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate reproductive success through biotic pollination syndromes. The flowering period is extensive, beginning in April and continuing through September. During this time, the plant produces blue flowers with widths ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm. The pollination process is biotic, specifically involving insects such as flies. Once fertilized, the plant utilizes self-fertilization to ensure seed production. The resulting fruit is a dry, dehiscence-type capsule. These capsules vary in size, with an average length of 0.3 cm (ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 cm) and an average width of 0.3 cm (ranging from 0.2 to 0.35 cm). The seeds produced within these capsules are minute, with a mean mass of 5e-05 g (ranging from 1e-05 to 0.00014 g) and a mean volume of 0.0335 mm³ (ranging from 0.025 to 0.042 mm³). Dispersal of these seeds is considered unspecialized, and the plant does not exhibit asexual reproduction.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

blue

Flower width max:

0.7 cm

Flower width min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.35 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00014 g

Seed mass mean:

5e-05 g

Seed mass min:

1e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.042 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.0335 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.025 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Veronica anagallis-aquatica has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amphicoside, Aquaticol, Aucubin, Boschnaloside, Catalpol.

Amphicoside

1. Planta medica

Aquaticol

1. Planta medica

Aucubin

1. Planta medica

Boschnaloside

1. Planta medica

Catalpol

1. Planta medica

Catalposide

1. Planta medica

Geniposidic acid

1. Planta medica

Mussaenoside

1. Planta medica

Sitosterol

1. Planta medica

Vanillic acid

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Veronica anagallis-aquatica has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Veronica anagallis-aquatica has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant activity.

Most Reported Uses