Etymology: Veronica: named after Saint Veronica, the woman who gave Jesus a cloth to wipe his face while on the way to Calvary, and so named because the markings on some species supposedly resemble those on her sacred handkerchief
Plants: spreading perennial, 2"-10" tall forb, hairy, creeping with erect branches
Leaves: all opposite, oval to elliptical narrowing to the base, 1 1/2-3 times as long as wide, finely toothed, almost stalkless
Flowers: light blue, 4-parted, 1/4"-1/3" wide, lobes longer than the tube; inflorescence a stalked, spike-like cluster (raceme) of stalked flowers only from the upper leaf axils; blooms April-July
Fruits: triangular capsule
Habitat: dry; fields, upland woods
Conservation Status: Introduced - escaped

Floristic Rating: Wetland Indicator = UPL USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS): Images of seeds, fruits, embryos, etc. David G. Smith's "Delaware Wilflowers": Beautiful photographs; descriptions Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"