Creeping speedwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creeping speedwell |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Veronica
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| Species: |
plebeia
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| Synonyms | |
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Veronica deltoidea Spreng. |
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Veronica plebeia, also known as creeping speedwell or trailing speedwell, is a small plant. It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. You can find it growing naturally in Australia and New Zealand.
Contents
About the Creeping Speedwell
The famous botanist Robert Brown first described the trailing speedwell in 1810. He wrote about it in his book, Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. Brown had found this plant near Sydney in May 1802. Later, in 2012, a science study looked at the plant's genes. It found that Veronica plebeia is very closely related to another plant called V. grosseserrata.
What Does it Look Like?
The creeping speedwell is a plant that lives for many years. It grows long stems called stolons, which can reach up to 1 meter (3 feet) long. Roots grow from these stems wherever they touch the ground. The parts of the plant that have flowers can stand up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) tall.
Its leaves are shaped like triangles or hearts. They are about 0.8 to 2 centimeters (0.3–0.6 inches) long. The leaves are also about 0.5 to 1.6 centimeters (0.2–0.5 inches) wide.
The flowers are usually light purple to pale blue. They bloom from September to June. You'll see the most flowers between October and January, and again in April. These pretty flowers grow in small groups of 2 to 8.
Where it Grows
You can find Veronica plebeia in almost all parts of Australia. It grows in every state and territory except the Northern Territory. It is very common in eastern New South Wales. In Queensland, it grows as far north as Tully and the Atherton Tableland.
It is quite rare in Tasmania. There, it is mostly found in the Tamar Valley and a few other spots on the east coast. In New Zealand, it has been seen along the coast of the North Island. It also grows in northwest Nelson in the South Island and on the Chatham Islands.
Scientists have wondered if it is truly native to New Zealand or if it arrived later. But since it grows in places that haven't been changed much by people, it's likely that it is native. It has also started growing naturally on Norfolk Island.
Its Favorite Places to Live
This plant likes to grow in clay soils that are found over shale rock. You can often find it in wet forests with tough-leaved trees. Some of these trees include Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus fastigata, and Eucalyptus pilularis.
It also grows in drier forests with trees like Eucalyptus punctata and Eucalyptus fibrosa. In open woodlands, it grows under trees such as Angophora bakeri, Eucalyptus sclerophylla, Melaleuca decora, Eucalyptus moluccana, and Eucalyptus tereticornis.
How it Gets Pollinated
Scientists believe that native bees and flies help to pollinate the flowers of Veronica plebeia. This means these insects carry pollen from one flower to another, helping the plant make seeds.
