Overview

Appearance

Veronica beccabunga is an emergent perennial aquatic herbaceous plant, that is smooth and succulent. The branching reddish stems of this plant are prostrate, ascending at the tip, and rooting along the stem. It is native to Europe, Africa and Asia.

Foliage

The opposite, smooth, oval leaves are blunt, coarsely toothed and fleshy. They are about 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) long.

Flowers

The small blue flowers have a white center and are held on spreading stalks coming from the leaf axils. The oval petals are uneven and may be striped with pink at the base.

Fruit

The fruit is a capsule that is round, flat notched and swollen. Seeds are winged, flattened, and smooth.

Ecological Threat

V. beccabunga can occur in many wetland habitats, such as the margins of rivers and streams. It will also occur in the draw-down zones of lakes and ponds and in ditches and canals either where water is relatively shallow or the bank slopes are gentle enough to allow it to root in the margins.

Selected Images

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Maps

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References

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Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.

Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.