Veronica serpyllifolia
 
Thyme-Leaved Speedwell

Flower in Ground

Centre Block, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
10-July-2011

Serpyllifolia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 

perennials; NOT [annuals]

lower leaves short-petiolate; NOT [leaves all sessile]

leaves mostly less than 5 cm long; NOT [leaves 5-15 cm long]

leaves entire or obscurely toothed; NOT [leaves conspicuously serrate]

flowers in terminal racemes; NOT [flowers in axillary racemes], NOT [flowers solitary in axils of leaves]

racemes not well-defined, loose; NOT [racemes well-defined, dense]

calyx 4-lobed; NOT [calyx 5-lobed, with the upper 2 long and the lower 3 short]

capsule wider than long; NOT [capsule longer than wide]

capsule deeply notched; NOT [capsule barely notched]

 

Veronica: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

leaves NOT all basal

cauline leaves opposite; NOT [cauline leaves alternate]

sepal lobes 4; NOT [sepal lobes 5]

petals present; NOT [petals absent]

corolla rotate; NOT [corolla short-tubular]

corolla NOT spurred at the base

petal lobes 4; NOT [petal lobes 5]

two anther-bearing stamens and no sterile stamen

stamens NOT protruding

 

Scrophulariaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. Not all the answers apply to all members of this family, but all do apply to this species.

herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

plants NOT aquatic

plants green or with some chlorophyll; NOT [plants parasitic or saprophytic, without chlorophyll]

stems NOT square

leaves NOT bearing bladders

flowers NOT in heads or spikes; NOT [flowers in long or short spikes], NOT [flowers in heads or in form resembling a head]

corolla irregular; NOT [corolla regular]

ovary superior; NOT [ovary inferior]

fruit a many-seeded capsule; NOT [fruit with 4 nutlets]