Veronica syriaca

Veronica syriaca, the Syrian speedwell, is a flowering plant species in the family Plantaginaceae.

Description

It is an annual plant. It is pubescent-glandular and up to tall. The leaves are ovate, crenulate or dentate.
Blooming from January to May, the flowers are in loose racemes. The bracts are linear and entire. The pedicels are filiform, spreading-erect, sometimes recurved at the apex. The calyx lobes are ovate-Ianceolate,. The corolla is blue and white, in diameter.

Etymology

The generic name of this flower is of unknown origin. Some think it is a distortion of betonica, the Latin name of a species of Labiates; others consider that it refers to Saint Veronica who handed a cloth to Christ to wipe the perspiration from his face.

Distribution and habitat

It is distributed in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey. It appears on the coast, the lower and middle mountains, and eastern slope of Beqaa of Lebanon, Hennon. It can be found in fields and gardens.