large speedwell

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• large speedwell

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cardia plana
• Ponaria latifolia
• Cardia latifolia
• Veronica teucrium subsp. pseudochamaedrys
• Veronica teucrium f. incisa
• Veronica teucriphylla
• Veronicastrum latifolium
• Veronica teucrium var. subfloccosotomentosa
• Veronica teucrium var. minor
• Veronica teucrium var. nana
• Veronica teucrium var. integerrima
• Veronica pseudochamaedrys
• Veronica teucrium var. lasiocalyx
• Veronica brachysepala
• Veronica austriaca subsp. teucrium
• Veronica teucrium f. lasiocalyx
• Veronica austriaca subsp. pseudochamaedrys
• Veronica austriaca var. teucrium
• Veronica teucrium var. oxypetala
• Uranostachys teucrium
• Veronica teucrium var. multifidum
• Veronica nitida
• Veronica teucrium subsp. latifolia
• Veronica teucrium proles pseudochamaedrys
• Veronica teucrium var. bastardii
• Veronica teucrium var. lutetiana
• Veronicastrum latifolium var. latifolium
• Veronica teucrium proles brachysepala
• Veronica teucrium f. brachysepala
• Veronica teucrium var. major
• Veronica teucrium var. minima
• Veronica latifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and family Plantaginaceae, it is classified under the genus Veronica. As a member of the Veronica genus, Veronica teucrium is specifically identified by its unique medicinal properties.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward the central part of the continent, it can also be found throughout Middle Europe. Specifically, this includes populations located in Austria and Belgium. Finally, the species extends its range further east into the Czechia-Slovakia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Veronica teucrium is characterized by its preference for diverse montane environments, thriving within habitats such as forests, forest edges, meadows, and shrubberies. This species occupies a specific vertical niche within its ecosystem, maintaining an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 1000 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. By inhabiting both the sheltered interiors of forests and the more open, light-exposed areas of meadows and shrublands, it demonstrates a versatile ability to adapt to varying degrees of canopy cover and moisture availability within these mid-to-high altitude zones.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, meadows, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Veronica teucrium is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perennuating buds at the soil surface, typically under a layer of leaf litter or organic debris, which facilitates its survival during unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, it maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout the year to sustain metabolic processes and maximize photosynthetic efficiency across varying seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Veronica teucrium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. The species is terrestrial in its habitat, rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or an epiphyte, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively small, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.7 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Veronica teucrium is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco. As a non-carnivorous species, the plant relies entirely on its root system for the uptake of essential nutrients and minerals from the soil, rather than employing specialized structures to capture or digest insect prey. This reliance on soil-based nutrient acquisition, combined with its C3 metabolism, dictates its metabolic requirements and its adaptation to specific environmental conditions regarding light intensity and resource availability.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Veronica teucrium is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily involving insects, with flies playing a specific role in the process. The flowering period is relatively concentrated, typically beginning in June and concluding in July. During this reproductive phase, the plant is capable of self-fertilization, ensuring seed set even in the absence of diverse pollinators. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. This fruit is characterized by being dehiscence, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. Notably, there is no evidence of asexual reproduction in this species, indicating that its life cycle relies entirely on sexual reproduction for propagation.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Veronica teucrium has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoscutellarein, Plantamajoside, apigenin, luteolin.

Isoscutellarein

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Plantamajoside

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

apigenin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

luteolin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Conditions

Veronica teucrium has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Parkinson's disease

1. Chemistry & biodiversity