Veronica beccabunga subsp. beccabunga
Perennials. Stems decumbent to ascending proximally, creeping distally, 10–60 cm, glabrous. Leaves: petiole 2–4(–8) mm; blade broadly oblong, ovate, or subelliptic, widest near or distal to middle, (10–)15–35(–65) × (6–)8–20(–33) mm, 1.5–2 times as long as wide, base rounded-truncate to cuneate, margins denticulate, subserrulate, or subentire, rarely crenulate, apex obtuse-rounded, shining, surfaces glabrous. Racemes 2–6(–12), axillary, 30–50 mm, (5–)10–15(–22)-flowered, axis glabrous; bracts lanceolate, 3–6 mm. Pedicels subpatent, arcuate-erect, or suberect, (2.5–)3–7(–10) mm, equal to subtending bract, glabrous. Flowers: calyx lobes 2–2.5 mm, apex acute, glabrous; corolla deep or bright, rarely pale, blue with white center, 5–6 mm diam.; stamens 1.4–2.8 mm; style (1.3–)1.5–3(–3.5) mm. Capsules slightly compressed in cross section, broadly ellipsoid or globular, 2.5–4(–5.5) × 3–4(–4.5) mm, apex not or ± emarginate, glabrous. Seeds 38–70(–110), brown, broadly ellipsoid, flat, 0.4–0.6 × 0.3–0.5 mm, 0.2–0.3 mm thick, smooth. 2n = 18, 36.
Phenology: Flowering May–Sep(–Oct).
Habitat: Streams, marshes, ditches, wet meadows, running water, disturbed sites.
Elevation: 0–2300 m.
Distribution
B.C., Ont., Que., Calif., Conn., Ill., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Mo., Nev., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., Va., W.Va., Wis., Eurasia, Africa, introduced in s South America (Argentina, Chile).
Discussion
For the flora area, Veronica beccabunga was first recorded in 1876 (New York, D. H. Les and R. L. Stuckey 1985); it seems to have been introduced multiple times independently.