Veronica biloba - Twolobe Speedwell

Twolobe Speedwell is an annual herb 5-20 cm tall. Stems are erect, usually branched basally and from middle, sparsely velvety. Leaves are short-stalked, leaf blade oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 0.5-3 x 0.4-1.3 cm, base broadly wedge-shaped to rounded, margin sparsely shallowly toothed. Flower racemes are borne at branch ends, sometimes also in leaf axils, 2-25 cm, hairy. Bracts are alternate, smaller than leaves, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, margin entire. Flower-stalks are 3-7 mm, as long as or shorter than bract, patent and straight in fruit. Calyx is 4-lobed, laterally more shallowly parted to 3/4 of length. Sepals are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 4-8 x 2-4 mm in fruit, margin entire, tip pointed, prominently 3-veined. Flowers are white, blue, or purple, flat-faced, 3-4 mm in diameter, upper petal circular and other 3 lobes ovate-circular. Filaments are shorter than the flower. Capsule is strongly compressed, shorter than calyx, 3-4.5 x 3.5-5 mm. Twolobe Speedwell is found in W. & C. Asia, Himalayas, Tibet, W. China, at altitudes of 2300-4200 m. Flowering: April-August.