Purslane Speedwell, American Speedwell, Neckweed, Hairy Purslane Speedwell, Hairy Speedwell, Necklaceweed

Veronica peregrina

veh-RON-ih-ka  per-uh-GREE-nuh

Synonyms of Veronica peregrina (21) (Updated on 12-21-23 from Plants of the World Online): Veronica carnosula Lam. (1791), Veronica caroliniana Walter (1788), Veronica chillensis Kunth (1818), Veronica laevis Lam. (1779), Veronica marilandica Murray (1782)(nom. illeg.), Veronica maximowicziana Vorosch. (1968), Veronica pallescens Gaterau (1789), Veronica peregrina subsp. asiatica Elenevsky (1975), Veronica peregrina var. laurentiana Vict. & J.Rousseau (1940), Veronica peregrina var. pubescens Honda (1940), Veronica peregrina var. romana (L.) Dumort. (1827), Veronica peregrina var. subserrata Rchb. (1823), Veronica peregrina subsp. typica Pennell (1935)(not validly publ.)Veronica peregrina xalapensis (Kunth) Pennell (1919), Veronica peregrina f. xalapensis (Kunth) Kitag. (1979), Veronica peregrina subsp. xalapensis (Kunth) Pennell (1935), Veronica peregrina var. xalapensis (Kunth) H.St.John (1928), Veronica peruviana Willd. ex A.Dietr. (1831), Veronica romana L. (1753), Veronica sherwoodii Peck (1928), Veronica xalapensis Kunth (1818)

Veronica peregrina L. is the accepted scientific name for this species of Veronica. The genus and species were named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 12-21-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 461 species in the Veronica genus. It is a member of the plant family Plantaginaceae with 107 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map for Veronica peregrina is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native and purple is where it has been introduced. The map on the USDA Plants Database for the United States and Canada is the same.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A BETTER POSITIVE ID.

Veronica peregrina is very common and grows on the farm mainly in the flower beds, the garden, around trees, and so on. I took the photos from a good-sized patch in an area behind the barn in 2020. It grows alongside Chickweed in the flower beds with no problem… Its cousin, Veronica persica (Bird’s Eye Speedwell), grows in the yard on the north side of the driveway and is one of the first early wildflowers to start blooming. Common names for Veronica peregrina include Purslane Speedwell, American Speedwell, Neckweed, Necklaceweed, Hairy Speedwell, Hairy Purslane Speedwell, and possibly others.

This neat little plant is fairly common in Missouri and across North America but it is quite often overlooked. There is another species, Cruciata pedemontana (Piedmont Bedstraw) in the back of the farm that is similar. When I see it I always think, “I have seen them before somewhere,” but I am remembering the Veronica peregrina. 

This species can be found in several habitats in bottomland forests, along pond margins, streams and river banks, marshy areas, fields, lawns, pastures, gardens, ditches, moist disturbed areas, and so on. They like areas with damp soil, but can also take heat and dry conditions in shady areas. Take a closer look at the plants you hardly pay attention to and you just might spot this species.

The plants can grow to about 12” tall (30 cm) on thin stems that can often lay down on the job, especially after a rainy and windy day. They can branch out toward the base and have multiple stems. The stems are usually smooth (glabrous) or can have fine, short hairs (pubescent). The stems are usually green, but they can also have a purplish tint.

The 3/17-7/8” long leaves grow in an opposite manner along the stems. They are mostly sessile (no leaf stems) but lower petals may have short petioles (leaf stems). They are oblong-lanceolate to ovate in shape, margins bluntly toothed to irregularly scalloped or can be smooth, and taper to a bluntly rounded tip. The surfaces are glabrous (hairless) or may have VERY SHORT glandular hairs. 

The small (1/8”) single tubular flowers emerge in racemes from the leaf axils. The leaf-like bracts surrounding the flower are about as long as the corollas. Corollas are sort of like petals. In this case, the corolla has four white lobes (petal-like) that are possibly fused together. I have to get a closer look and take some photos. The flowers may have a pinkish tint. Flowers also have one stamen and two exerted styles. I think the flowers only last one day… The flowering period is April through August.

Numerous seeds are produced from heart-shaped capsules with 2 valves, dehiscing along the sutures. 

I have enjoyed photographing and learning about the many wildflowers growing on the family farm and in other areas. The farm is in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be somewhat variable from location to location, so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD PLANTS
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
MSU-MIDWEST WEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-WEED ID GUIDE
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON-BURKE HERBARIUM
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
NATIVE PLANTS OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and can be hard to keep with. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂