Veronica cusickii
Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 2(1): 288. 1878.
Perennials. Stems erect, unbranched or sparsely branched at base, (5–)10–15(–30) cm, finely glandular-hairy. Leaves: blade elliptic-ovate, (5–)10–25 × 5–10 mm, base cuneate, margins entire or subentire, apex short-acuminate, surfaces glabrous or glabrate. Racemes 1, terminal, (15–)40–80(–130) mm, (4–)8–30(–40)-flowered, axis finely glandular-hairy; bracts lanceolate, 3–7(–11) mm. Pedicels erect, 3–9 mm, equal to or ± longer than subtending bract, finely glandular-hairy. Flowers: calyx lobes 2–3 mm, apex acute to obtuse, finely glandular-hairy; corolla deep blue-violet, rarely white, rotate, (8–)10–13 mm diam.; stamens 4–8 mm; style (5–)6–9(–10) mm, conspicuously exerted. Capsules compressed in cross section, oblong-obovoid, 4–6 × 3.5–5.5 mm, ca. as long as wide, apex emarginate, finely glandular-hairy. Seeds 28–32, straw colored or dark brown, ovoid, flat, 0.6 × 0.4 mm, 0.1 mm thick, rough. 2n = 18, 72.
Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Gravelly soils, openings in coniferous forests and in subalpine and alpine meadows.
Elevation: 1500–3200 m.
Distribution
B.C., Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.
Discussion
Veronica cusickii is sister to V. copelandii and closely related to V. wormskjoldii subsp. nutans (D. C. Albach et al. 2006).
Selected References
None.