The genus name
Veronica used in
binomial nomenclature was chosen by
Carl Linnaeus based on preexisting common usage of the name veronica in many European languages for plants in this group. Such use in English is attested as early as 1572. The name probably reflects a connection with
Saint Veronica, whose Latin name is ultimately derived from Greek,
Berenice.
Hebe complex In 1769,
Joseph Banks and
Daniel Solander collected plants in the Southern Hemisphere that were later published in the genus
Veronica, and
Veronica stricta. Although the genus
Hebe was established in 1789, few botanists initially accepted it, continuing to use
Veronica. From the 1920s onwards, New Zealand botanists in particular began to use other genera; and
V. stricta to
Hebe by
Lucy Moore in 1961. By the beginning of the 21st century, a range of genera were used for the "
Hebe complex" consisting of Southern Hemisphere species related to
Veronica, including
Chionohebe,
Derwentia,
Detzneria,
Hebe,
Heliohebe,
Leonohebe and
Parahebe. However,
molecular phylogenetic studies from the early 21st century onwards showed that segregating Southern Hemisphere genera in this way rendered
Veronica paraphyletic, since the segregated genera were all embedded within
Veronica. To create
monophyletic genera, either the Northern Hemisphere
Veronica species would have to be divided among a substantial number of smaller genera, or
Veronica would have to be expanded to include the
Hebe complex. and the Flora of New Zealand Online.
Selected species ,
Plants of the World Online listed about 460 accepted species and hybrids in the genus
Veronica. This includes species formerly placed in the genus
Hebe. •
Veronica agrestis, green field-speedwell •
Veronica alaskensis, Alaska speedwell •
Veronica alpina, alpine speedwell •
Veronica americana, American brooklime •
Veronica anagallis-aquatica, water speedwell •
Veronica aphylla, leafless stemmed speedwell •
Veronica arcuata •
Veronica arenaria •
Veronica arvensis, wall speedwell •
Veronica austriaca, Austrian speedwell •
Veronica beccabunga, brooklime •
Veronica bellidioides •
Veronica besseya •
Veronica bishopiana •
Veronica bullii •
Veronica calycina, cup speedwell •
Veronica catarractae •
Veronica catenata, pink water speedwell •
Veronica chamaedrys, germander speedwell •
Veronica cinerea •
Veronica continua B.G.Briggs •
Veronica copelandii, Copeland's speedwell •
Veronica cusickii, Cusick's speedwell •
Veronica cymbalaria, pale speedwell •
Veronica dabneyi, Azores speedwell •
Veronica derwentiana, Derwent speedwell •
Veronica dillenii, Dillenius' speedwell •
Veronica diosmifolia •
Veronica filiformis, slender speedwell •
Veronica formosa •
Veronica fruticans, rock speedwell •
Veronica gentianoides, gentian speedwell •
Veronica gracilis •
Veronica hederifolia, ivy-leaved speedwell •
Veronica incana, silver speedwell •
Veronica japonensis •
Veronica jovellanoides •
Veronica liwanensis •
Veronica longifolia, long-leaved speedwell •
Veronica lyallii •
Veronica mannii •
Veronica missurica •
Veronica montana, wood speedwell •
Veronica nivea •
Veronica obtusata •
Veronica officinalis, heath speedwell •
Veronica ovata •
Veronica panormitana •
Veronica peduncularis •
Veronica peregrina, American speedwell •
Veronica perfoliata, Digger's speedwell •
Veronica persica, common field-speedwell •
Veronica pimeleoides •
Veronica pinguifolia •
Veronica plebeia, creeping speedwell •
Veronica polita, grey field speedwell •
Veronica ponae •
Veronica prostrata, sprawling speedwell •
Veronica pubescens •
Veronica pulvinaris •
Veronica rakaiensis •
Veronica regina-nivalis •
Veronica repens, Corsican speedwell •
Veronica salicifolia •
Veronica scutellata, marsh speedwell •
Veronica serpyllifolia, thyme-leaved speedwell •
Veronica speciosa •
Veronica spicata, spiked speedwell •
Veronica stricta •
Veronica strictissima •
Veronica syriaca •
Veronica topiaria •
Veronica traversii •
Veronica triphyllos, fingered speedwell •
Veronica turrilliana •
Veronica verna, spring speedwell •
Veronica vernicosa •
Veronica wormskjoldii, Wormskjold's speedwell ==Uses==