About Veronica derwentiana Andrews
Veronica derwentiana is a woody herb that reaches 140 cm (55 in) in height. It grows numerous upright stems from a woody rootstock. Stems are either smooth or covered in small, longitudinally aligned hairs; hairs may occasionally grow across the entire stem surface. Stems do not branch below the flowers, and can live for up to 2 years. Its leaves are 5–20 cm (2.0–7.9 in) long, ranging from lance-shaped to egg-shaped, ending in a sharp or tapering point. Leaf bases vary in shape, and may be wedge-shaped, squared, or heart-shaped. Leaves grow on a small broad stalk or have no stalk. Leaf margins bear 30 to 80 small pointed teeth. Calyx lobes measure 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long, and are either smooth or have occasional short hairs. Flower petals are 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long, and colored white, pale lilac, or pale blue. Flowers grow in racemes that hold 40 to 100 individual flowers. The seed capsule is either narrow or broadly egg-shaped, measuring 2.8–5.5 mm (0.11–0.22 in) long and 2.5–4.5 mm (0.098–0.177 in) wide. The capsule is either smooth or bears short hairs on its upper surface, and is somewhat lustrous. Flowering takes place in summer. This species, commonly called Derwent speedwell, grows in a range of habitats across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, including eucalypt forest and alpine herb fields. It is often found growing on disturbed sites.
