Veronica persica


Veronica persica is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Eurasia and is widespread as an introduced species in the British Isles, North America, eastern Asia, including Japan and China, and Australia.

Description

Veronica persica is an annual or winter annual herb that reproduces from seed.
Its cotyledons are triangular with truncated bases. The short-stalked leaves are broadly ovate with coarsely serrated margins, and measure long. The leaves are paired on the lower stem and are alternately arranged on the upper parts. The plant has weak stems that form a dense, prostrate groundcover. The tips of stems often grow upright.
The flowers are roughly wide and are sky-blue with dark stripes and white centers. They are zygomorphic, having only one vertical plane of symmetry. They are solitary on long, slender, hairy stalks in the s.
The seeds are transversely rugose and measure between long. There are five to 10 seeds per locule in the fruit.
Veronica persica can be distinguished from similar species by its heart-shaped fruit with two widely-separated lobes.

Horticultural uses

Although many species in the genus are used in gardens, this species is generally seen as a weed and has no known horticultural uses.

Herbal medicine

Afghani herbalist, Mahomet Allum, used the plant to treat patients with heart trouble, in Adelaide, Australia, in the mid-20th century.