Veronica peregrina is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family known by several common names including neckweed, American speedwell, purslane speedwell and hairy purslane speedwell. It is native to the Americas, and is known on other continents as an introduced species and a common weed. It can be weedy in its native range as well, growing on roadsides, on fields, and in other disturbed habitat. It is an annual herb growing from a taproot. The two subspecies are defined generally on the basis of hairiness: ssp. xalapensis is coated in glandular hairs and ssp. peregrina is a hairless variety. The plant produces erect stems up to about tall. The leaves vary in shape from linear to lance-shaped to spoon-shaped with smooth or serrated edges; the lower leaves are borne on petioles. The inflorescence is a loose terminal raceme of flowers and lance-shaped bracts. The flowers are generally white and wide.
Taxonomy Veronica peregrina was given its scientific name in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus. It part of the genus Veronica, which is classified in the Plantaginaceae family. It has no accepted subspecies but has two among its synonyms.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Veronica carnosula 1791 species = het. Veronica caroliniana 1788 species = het. Veronica chillensis 1818 species = het. Veronica laevis 1779 species = het. Veronica marilandica 1782 species = het., nom. illeg., homonym. post. Veronica maximowicziana 1968 species = het. Veronica pallescens 1789 species = het. Veronica peregrina subsp. asiatica 1975 subspecies = het. Veronica peregrina var. laurentiana 1940 variety = het. Veronica peregrina var. pubescens 1940 variety = het. Veronica peregrina var. romana 1827 variety = het. Veronica peregrina var. subserrata 1823 variety = het. Veronica peregrina subsp. typica 1935 subspecies ≡ hom., not validly publ. Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis 1935 subspecies = het. Veronica peregrina var. xalapensis 1928 variety = het. Veronica peregrina f. xalapensis 1979 form = het. Veronica peregrina xalapensis 1919 = het. Veronica peruviana 1831 species = het. Veronica romana 1753 species = het. Veronica sherwoodii 1928 species = het. Veronica xalapensis 1818 species = het. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
References
External links
Fermanagh Species Account - Biological account from Farmanagh, Ireland Jepson Manual Treatment: ssp. xalapensis Missouri Plants Photo Profile Washington Burke Museum Photo gallery