Veronica polita
Veronica polita, the grey field-speedwell is a species of flowering plant in the Plantaginaceae family. It is native to Europe, southwestern Asia, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and a few nearby countries, and has been introduced to many countries worldwide particularly as a weed of cultivation.
Description
A sprawling, blue-flowered annual speedwell, with somewhat dull green, toothed leaves, broadest at the base. The flowers are smallish, usually bold blue, and grow solitary on stalks emerging from the stem at the leaf stalk, the longest ones not clearly exceeding the leaves; they mature to form a fruit capsule whose two lobes are parallel, clothed with long and short hairs. The lower leaves are non-elongated in appearance, whilst the upper leaves are elongated.Similar species include Veronica agrestis and Veronica persica.
Variants - P D Sell distinguishes var. polita with flowers 5–8 mm diameter, and var. grandiflora flowers 8–12 mm diam.
Distribution and habitat
Native to Europe, southwestern Asia, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and a few close by countries, introduced to many countries.Its habitat in Europe is cultivated ground.
Its habitat in Turkey is bare soil in open forests, steppe, cultivated land, roadsides, 0–1800 m.
Its habitat in North America is fields, ruderal places, calcareous soils, lawns, 0–600 m.