Veronica cymbalaria, the pale speedwell, glandular speedwell or cymbal speedwell is a species of flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae (Plantain) family. It is native to countries surrounding the Mediterranean and a little further afield, and has been introduced to parts of the Americas and New Zealand.
| Veronica cymbalaria | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Veronica |
| Species: | V. cymbalaria |
| Binomial name | |
| Veronica cymbalaria Bodard | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
editA sprawling, white-flowered annual speedwell, able to cover areas under the right conditions, resembling Veronica hederifolia (Ivy-Leaved Speedwell) but with white flowers (6–12 mm diam) and more numerously lobed leaves (5-9 lobes). The sepals holding the flowers and fruit have broad lobes, whilst the fruit is shallowly dented at the top. The plant is usually lightly hairy, but can be very hairy or hairless. [2] [3]
Taxonomy
editVeronica cymbalaria was given its scientific name in 1798 by Pierre Henri Hippolyte Bodard. It is part of the genus Veronica which is classified in the Plantaginaceae family. It has no accepted subspecies or varieties, but has several amoung its 13 synonyms.[1]
| Name | Year | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochlidiosperma cymbalaria (Bodard) Opiz | 1839 | species | ≡ hom. |
| Pocilla cymbalaria (Bodard) Fourr. | 1869 | species | ≡ hom. |
| Veronica bodardii Jord. & Fourr. | 1866 | species | = het. |
| Veronica cuneata Guss. | 1855 | species | = het. |
| Veronica cymbalaria var. fallacina (Jord. & Fourr.) Rouy | 1909 | variety | = het. |
| Veronica cymbalaria subsp. glandulosa Peev | 1978 | subspecies | = het. |
| Veronica cymbalaria var. longipes (Jord. & Fourr.) Rouy | 1909 | variety | = het. |
| Veronica cymbalariifolia Vahl | 1804 | species | = het., nom. illeg. |
| Veronica cymbalariifolia var. fallacina (Jord. & Fourr.) Rouy | 1909 | variety | = het. |
| Veronica cymbalariifolia var. longipes (Jord. & Fourr.) Rouy | 1909 | variety | = het. |
| Veronica fallacina Jord. & Fourr. | 1866 | species | = het. |
| Veronica glandulifera Freyn | 1876 | species | = het., nom. illeg. |
| Veronica longipes Jord. & Fourr. | 1866 | species | = het. |
| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym | |||
Distribution and habitat
editNative to countries around the Mediterranean and slight further afield - Native to Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corsica, Cyprus, East Aegean Islands, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Crete, Crimea, Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and ex-Yugoslavia countries, and introduced to Belgium, Chile Central, Great Britain, Louisiana, Netherlands, New Zealand North.[1]
Its habitat in Europe is cultivated ground and other dry, open habitats.[4]
Its habitat in Turkey is Macchie, open Pinus forests, rocky slopes, banks, dunes, walls, ruins, waste places and roadsides, 0–1200 m.[3]
References
edit- 1 2 3 POWO (2026). "Veronica cymbalaria Bodard". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ Flora of North America
- 1 2 Davis. Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, vol. 6, p. 723.
- ↑ Tutin. Flora Europaea, vol. 3, p. 250.