Veronica (plant)

Veronica
Veronica chamaedrys
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Tribe: Veroniceae
Genus: Veronica
L.
Type species
Veronica officinalis
L.
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Agerella Fourr.
    • Aidelus Spreng.
    • Allopleia Raf.
    • Atelianthus Nutt. ex Benth.
    • Azurinia Fourr.
    • Beccabunga Hill
    • Besseya Rydb.
    • Bonarota Adans.
    • Cardia Dulac
    • Chionohebe B.G.Briggs & Ehrend.
    • Cochlidiosperma (Rchb.) Rchb.
    • Coerulinia Fourr.
    • Cymbophyllum F.Muell.
    • Derwentia Raf.
    • Detzneria Schltr. ex Diels
    • Diplophyllum Lehm.
    • Eustachya Raf.
    • Eustaxia Raf.
    • Hebe Comm. ex Juss.
    • Hebejeebie Heads
    • Hedystachys Fourr.
    • Heliohebe Garn.-Jones
    • Leonohebe Heads
    • Limnaspidium Fourr.
    • Lunellia Nieuwl.
    • Odicardis Raf.
    • Oligospermum D.Y.Hong
    • Omphalospora Bartl.
    • Paederotella (E.Wulff) Kem.-Nath.
    • Panoxis Raf.
    • Parahebe W.R.B.Oliv.
    • Petrodora Fourr.
    • Pocilla Fourr.
    • Ponaria Raf.
    • Pseudolysimachion Opiz
    • Pygmea Hook.f.
    • Synthyris Benth.
    • Uranostachys Fourr.
    • Veronicella Fourr.
    • Zeliauros Raf.

Veronica is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Plantaginaceae, with about 500 species. It was formerly classified in the family Scrophulariaceae. Common names include speedwell, bird's eye, and gypsyweed.

Taxonomy for this genus was changed in the early 21st century, with the genus Hebe and the related Australasian genera Derwentia, Detzneria, Chionohebe, Heliohebe, Leonohebe and Parahebe now included.[2][3] Monophyly of the genus is supported by nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cpDNA.[4]

The taxa of the genus are herbaceous annuals or perennials, and also subshrubs, shrubs or small trees when Hebe is included. Most of the species are from the temperate Northern Hemisphere, though with some species from the Southern Hemisphere; Veronica sect. Hebe is mostly from New Zealand.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference POWO_30005997-2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Thompson, Ken (20 Jan 2011). "Don't judge a plant by appearances". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Hebe or Veronica". RNZ. Radio New Zealand. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  4. ^ Albach & Meudt, D.C. & H.M. (2010). "Phylogeny of Veronica in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres based on plastid, nuclear ribosomal and nuclear low-copy DNA". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 54 (2): 457–471. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.09.030. PMID 19796701.