gray speedwell

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• gray speedwell
• grey field speedwell
• wayside speedwell
• Grey Field-Speedwell
• Elegant speedwell
• Grey Speedwell

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Veronica agrestis var. polita
• Pocilla polita
• Veronica agrestis subsp. polita
• Veronica agrestis var. polita
• Veronica agrestis subsp. polita

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is positioned in the family Plantaginaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Veronica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several specific regions within Northern Europe. Its geographical range includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Furthermore, it can be located throughout the landscapes of Finland. The distribution extends westward to include both Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, the species is also documented to inhabit the territory of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Veronica polita is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit environments ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences include anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating an ability to persist in landscapes modified by human activity.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Veronica polita is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions are optimal for growth. Its physical structure and physiological habits align with the therophyte life form, allowing it to rapidly exploit available resources during its short lifespan. In terms of its vegetative state, the species is classified as evergreen, maintaining its green tissues throughout its active period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Veronica polita is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This independent, non-parasitic plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat and does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine, typically displaying an ascending shoot orientation. In terms of dimensions, the plant maintains a relatively low profile with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.2375 m. Its shoots are similarly compact, with lengths measured between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 35 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.2375 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Shoot length max:

35 cm

Shoot length min:

5 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Veronica polita is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard metabolic process for carbon fixation typical of many temperate species. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nutrient uptake. Its vegetative morphology is defined by elliptic leaf forms with a mean leaf size of approximately 1.08333 cm². The dimensions of the leaves vary, with a minimum leaf length of 0.6 cm and a maximum length of 1.7 cm, while the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 0.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 273.5 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological adaptation to its specific environmental niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

1.7 cm

Leaf length min:

0.6 cm

Leaf size mean:

1.08333 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

273.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

Reproduction in Veronica polita is achieved through sexual processes, as the plant is bisexual and lacks asexual reproduction methods. The flowering period is extensive, typically beginning in March and continuing through October, with flowers characterized by a blue color and widths ranging from 0.4 cm to 0.8 cm. The pollination process is biotic, specifically involving insects, with flies identified as a key pollinator. Self-fertilization is present within the species. Following pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscient capsules as its fruit type. These fruits are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.4 cm (ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm) and a mean width of 0.5 cm (ranging from 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm). Each capsule is highly productive, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, possessing a mean mass of 0.000338 g (ranging from 0.00032 g to 0.00038 g) and a consistent mean volume of 0.3 mm³. Seed dispersal is characterized by an unspecialized syndrome, though it also exhibits anthropochorous tendencies, suggesting movement via human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

blue

Flower width max:

0.8 cm

Flower width min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.4 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00038 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000338 g

Seed mass min:

0.00032 g

Seed volume max:

0.3 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Veronica polita has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Flavonol, Isoflavone, Vanillic acid, apigenin.

Flavonoid

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Flavonol

1. Food chemistry

Isoflavone

1. Food chemistry

Vanillic acid

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

apigenin

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

caffeic acid

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

gentisic acid

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

p-Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

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

Antioxidant

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Veronica polita has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant activity, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, weight loss.

Antioxidant activity

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Colitis

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Inflammatory bowel disease

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Ulcerative colitis

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Weight loss

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Preparations

Veronica polita has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include VP extract.

Vp extract

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie