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.
Description A 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. Flora of North America
Taxonomy Veronica 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 among its synonyms.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Cochlidiosperma cymbalaria 1839 species ≡ hom. Pocilla cymbalaria 1869 species ≡ hom. Veronica bodardii 1866 species = het. Veronica cuneata 1855 species = het. Veronica cymbalaria var. fallacina 1909 variety = het. Veronica cymbalaria subsp. glandulosa 1978 subspecies = het. Veronica cymbalaria var. longipes 1909 variety = het. Veronica cymbalariifolia 1804 species = het., nom. illeg. Veronica cymbalariifolia var. fallacina 1909 variety = het. Veronica cymbalariifolia var. longipes 1909 variety = het. Veronica fallacina 1866 species = het. Veronica glandulifera 1876 species = het., nom. illeg. Veronica longipes 1866 species = het. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym
Distribution and habitat
Native 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.
Its habitat in Europe is cultivated ground and other dry, open habitats.
Its habitat in Turkey is Macchie, open Pinus forests, rocky slopes, banks, dunes, walls, ruins, waste places and roadsides, 0–1200 m.
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