(American alpine speedwell)
Select an option below for more information on this species
Photo of Veronica wormskjoldii by Carl Roland
|
Alpine speedwell is a hairy herb that occurs in meadows and turfy places in tundra in Denali, and is much more common south of the Alaska Range crest than it is to the north. This species grows upright from a branching
rhizome and produces a small terminal cluster of deep-blue flowers. The leaves are opposite, short-
petioled, 1-4 cm long, and all are produced on the stem. The shape is
elliptic to
ovate, the edges are slightly
serrate and tips rounded. The stems are greenish at the base, becoming darker, and covered in long white hairs. At the top of the stem, plants produce an
inflorescence of several flowers, the
bracts and calyces covered in
glandular hairs. The
raceme is compact at first, elongating as the season progresses. Flowers have
bracts below, and the petals are surrounded by a four-lobe
calyx, the lobes
lanceolate. The
corolla is fused at the base, divided into four blue-violet lobes. Flowers are
bilaterally symmetric. The lowest lobe is narrower than the others, but shape of the petals is irregular in this species, from broadly rounded to almost
acuminate at the tip. Each flower has two
stamens and a white
style. Plants produce dry
capsules as fruits which are flattened and rounded, notched at the top.
Capsules split open to release several seeds. This is the most common
Veronica in the park, and it can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its terminal cluster of flowers.
Veronica wormskjoldii is perennial and
deciduous. It typicaly flowers mid-summer in Denali.
V. wormskjoldii is
monoecious with bisexual flowers. Species in the genus
Veronica produce nectar, and are likely insect-pollinated (
Kampny 1995). Whether
V. wormskjoldii is self-fertile or not is not be been studied. Plants produce dry
capsules as fruits which are flattened and rounded, notched at the top.
capsules split open to release several seeds.
Alpine speedwell is a North American species, growing from Alaska southward through the Cascades and Rocky Mountains to California, Arizona and New Mexico. Its range is more scattered to the east. This species occurs in the Northwest Territory and the Canadian arctic, northern Quebec, Greenland and infrequently in the Atlantic provinces and New England states. This species occurs in suitable meadow habitat in the southern half of Alaska, with isolated stations occurring northward to the Brooks Range. Veronica wormskjoldii occurs in the alpine and subalpine of the Park on both sides of the Alaska Range, but more frequently on the southern slopes of the range.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right, depicting recent Denali data.
Alpine speedwell is more common on southern aspects. This species is most common on steep slopes (20-28 degrees) and low inclines (less than 4 degrees). Its average elevation is at 1003 meters, and this species is uncommon below 600 meters.
Details are shown in the Plots & Charts found at right. For more on how to interpret these figures, visit Understanding Data Presented.
Moist sites in the mountains.