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Introduction
editVeronica serpyllifolia, the thyme-leaved speedwell or thymeleaf speedwell, is a perennial flowering plant in the plantain family. It can be found on most continents.
| Classification | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae - Plants |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta - Vascular plants |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta - Seed plants |
| Division | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class | Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons |
| Subclass | Asteridae |
| Order | Scrophulariales |
| Family | Scrophulariaceae - Figwort family |
| Genus | Veronica L. - speedwellP |
| Species | Veronica serpyllifolia L. - thymeleaf speedwellP |
Distribution
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Veronica serpyllifolia L. is known as a weed that grows in North America. As of 2010, it is known to grow in 37 of the US states. This species is native to Europe but later was introduced to America and New Zealand. [3] It is a weed that grows in many different areas. They grow well in open grass lands and cultivated lands. It is commonly known as thyme-leaf speedwell. It also grows well in lighter soils. [4] Veronica serpyllifolia grows best in places where it can receive a good amount of sunlight and also be shaded at times. It also grows best in a more moist environment during the spring season.[5]
Uses
editThyme-leaf speedwell can be consumed by humans. Both the flowers and leaves can be eaten raw. Leaves have a dull peppery flavor. It has a high concentration of vitamin C. It can be grown as a potherb, suitable for culinary use.[6]
Ecology
editPollinators include both flies and bees. They obtain the nectars from the flowers when they are in bloom. The seeds can latch onto the wings of birds or the fur of some animals. Veronica serpyllifolia grows in patches and is commonly recognized as a weed and found among turf grass. People who like to keep their yard free of weeds find this plant to be a problem. The best way to remove them is by mowing and watering lawns properly. This hinders the weeds ability grow.[5] Seed dispersal helps this plant spread. Many Veronica serpyllifolia seeds were found in cattle dung. The cattle dung increases cover and dispersal of the plant.[7]
Description
editVeronica serpyllifolia L. initially grows low to the ground then will start to grow upright. The flowers are small and are white with dark purple marks towards the center. The leaves are oval, borne on creeping stems. Roots grow from leaf axils. The prostrate stems bear erect flowering branches up to 20 cm high. The leaves are opposite on short stalks. The flowers are in racemes with a corolla 6 mm across and pale blue in color.[8] As a seedling, the leaves around the seed are spoon shaped. The first leaves that grow do not have a stalk, they are hairless and have a smooth edge. This is when the leaves begin to grow opposite from each other. Their stems grow from nodes on the roots, allowing it to grow in thick mats close to the ground. The lower leaves are oval and have smooth edges and grow opposite along the stem. The higher leaves are oval but smaller than the lower leaves. The lower leaves have relatively short stalks, while the higher or upper leaves are stalkless. [9] They have four petals and grow from the leaf axils. [10] The fruits are capsules that replace the flowers after blooming. The fruits are obcordate or heart shaped and mostly flattened. Capsules are small and have a pubescent outer layer with a notched tip. Veronica sepyllifolia capsules are roughly 2.5-3.5mm long.[9] Once the capsules are mature, they open up to release many small seeds. Their root systems are both fibrous and rhizomatous.[5] The fruit is lined with hairs and the seeds on the inside of the capsule are also flattened. This plant can be hard to spot as it is relatively small and grows in patches which can be covered by grass. They are more noticeable when they bloom and the flowers can be spotted. [11] The plant reproduces either by dropping its seeds or by rooting stems.[9]
Phenology
editGrows best during moist spring seasons. Typically through the months of April-August. The warmer temperatures promote the growth of the flowers. Early spring mornings with dew on the ground provide a good moist environment for the plants. They can be found along river banks, meadows, and forests among other grasses. They can grow in elevations up to 3300 m. [12]
Weed Control
editThe use of herbicide is recommended for the complete removal of this species from a yard or a lawn. Picking the weed and pulling the roots out can work but this risks the further dispersal of seeds on the lawn.[10] One study showed that wiping herbicides onto the plant rather than spraying it helps to better remove of the species. It stated that wiping method worked better and the spray on method caused harm to other grasses surrounding the weeds.[13] Veronica serpyllifolia seems to be harder to control as compared to other Verinica species. The use of the herbicide, dacthal, resulted in a higher percentage of control on Veronica seroyllifolia. The application of this herbicide over the course of three months completely removed the plant.[14]
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| Symbol | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| VESE3 | Veronicastrum serpyllifolium (L.) Fourr. |
| VESEN | Veronica serpyllifolia L. var. nummularioides Lecoq & Lamotte |
Veronica serpyllifolia is able to grow in both wetlands and non-wetlands. [16]
| Region | Status |
|---|---|
| Alaska | OBL |
| Arid West | FAC |
| Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain | FAC |
| Eastern Mountains and Piedmont | FAC |
| Great Plains | OBL |
| Hawaii | FAC |
| Midwest | FACW |
| Northcentral & Northeast | FAC |
| Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast | FAC |
- ^ "Floras - North Carolina Botanical Garden". Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ a b c "USDA Plants Database". plants.sc.egov.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ Rahman, Matiur (2021-06-15). "https://bbrc.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BBRC_Vol_14_No_05_Special-Issue_42.pdf". Bioscience Biotechnology Research Communications. 14 (5): 242–244. doi:10.21786/bbrc/14.5/43. ISSN 0974-6455.
{{cite journal}}: External link in|title= - ^ "Anthecology of Veronica serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia (Plantaginaceae) in Moscow region". Растительный мир Азиатской России (4). 2017. doi:10.21782/rmar1995-2449-2017-4(42-46). ISSN 1995-2449.
- ^ a b c "Thyme-Leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia)". www.illinoiswildflowers.info. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ "Speedwell (Veronica spp.) in Quebec". northernbushcraft.com. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
- ^ Welch, D. (1985-08). "Studies in the Grazing of Heather Moorland In North-East Scotland. IV. Seed Dispersal and Plant Establishment in Dung". The Journal of Applied Ecology. 22 (2): 461. doi:10.2307/2403178. ISSN 0021-8901.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press. ISBN 978-1-85918-478-3.
- ^ a b c "Weed Gallery: Thymeleaf speedwell". ipm.ucanr.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ a b "Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Thyme-leaf Speedwell". Penn State Extension. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
- ^ "Veronica serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaf Speedwell): Minnesota Wildflowers". www.minnesotawildflowers.info. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- ^ "Veronica serpyllifolia - FNA". beta.floranorthamerica.org. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ Harrington, K. C.; Hood, M. Z.; McKinnon, K. C. (2000-08-01). "Assessment of two herbicide wiping devices". New Zealand Plant Protection. 53: 273–276. doi:10.30843/nzpp.2000.53.3707. ISSN 1179-352X.
- ^ Alforidi, A.; Aslam, D.M.; Li, D.; Liang, X. (2019-12-31). "3D - PRINTED MULTILAYER PROCESSES FOR LIGHTWEIGHT WEARABLE AND FLEXIBLE MICROSYSTEMS". International Journal of Advanced Research. 7 (12): 742–745. doi:10.21474/ijar01/10203. ISSN 2320-5407.
- ^ "Veronica serpyllifolia (Thymeleaf Speedwell, Thyme-leaved Speedwell, Thyme Speedwell) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
- ^ "Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved 2021-11-17.