Veronica fruticans, Jacq.

6. V. fruticans Jacq. , Enum. Stirp. Vindob. 2, 200 (1762)

( V. saxatilis Scop. ).

Stems 5-15 cm, simple, woody at the base, ascending from a procumbent, branched, woody stock. Leaves 8-20 x 2-7 mm, obovate to narrowly oblong, entire or slightly crenate-serrate, subsessile, glabrous or puberulent. Racemes short, sometimes more or less capitate in flower, with 4—10 flowers, elongating to 3-6 cm in fruit; pedicels c. 5 mm in flower, up to 20 mm in fruit; lower bracts similar to cauline leaves. Pedicels, calyx and capsule densely crispate- to appressed-pubescent, without glandular hairs. Calyx 5 mm; segments 4, elliptic-oblong. Corolla 11-15 mm in diameter, deep blue with reddish centre. Capsule 6-8 x 4-5 mm, ovate, with a narrow, scarcely emarginate apex; style 4 mm. 2n= 16. Rocks and stony grassland. N. W. Europe, extending very locally eastwards to N. W. Russia; mountains o f C. & S. Europe southwards to N. Spain, Corse and C. Jugoslavia. Au Br Co Cz Fa Fe Ga Ge He Hs Is It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, W) Su.