Herbs, perennial; rhizomatous. Stems erect, sparsely to densely villous proximally, sometimes glabrous distally. Leaves cauline, whorled, rarely opposite; petiole present; blade not fleshy, not leathery, margins serrate to doubly serrate. Inflorescences terminal, spikelike racemes; peduncle absent; bracts present. Pedicels present; bracteoles present. Flowers bisexual; sepals (4 or)5, proximally connate, calyx bilaterally symmetric, cylindric, lobes lanceolate; corolla white or pinkish, weakly bilaterally symmetric, weakly bilabiate, tubular-salverform, tube base not spurred or gibbous, lobes 4, abaxial 3, adaxial 1; stamens 2, proximally adnate to corolla, filaments pubescent proximally; staminode 0; ovary 2-locular, placentation axile; stigma capitate. Fruits capsules, dehiscence loculicidal, sometimes also septicidal, becoming 2- or apparently 4-valved distally. Seeds 10–30, brown or reddish brown, ellipsoid, wings absent. × = 17.

Distribution

c, e North America, e Asia.

Discussion

Species ca. 20 (1 in the flora).

Veronicastrum appears to be part of a grade of genera in Veroniceae that is ancestral to Veronica (D. C. Albach et al. 2004).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Veronicastrum virginicum