Veronica hederifolia L. subsp. hederifolia

Spice Fruit detail Fruit In the field

Family: SCROPHULARIACEAE

Genus: Veronica

Catalan common name: Morró negre.

Spanish common name: Té de Europa.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Cultivated zones.

Characteristics: A prostrate growing plant, with many branches that originate from the root collar. Stems are covered with flat leaves with lobed margins, the central lobe larger than the rest. The flowers emerge from the leaf axils and are sky blue in colour with four petals. Each flower forms a globate capsule divided into four lobules. Can be distinguished from subsp. triloba, as the later has leaves with only three lobes and dark blue flowers. Can be found in flower almost throughout the year in cool, wet areas, but is most showy at the end of winter.