[Brooklimes and Speedwells: The Genus Veronica in Mt. Adams Country]

Cusick's Speedwell

Veronica cusickii

Flowers of Cusick's Speedwell: Veronica cusickii

The photo above shows a close-up of the flowers of Cusick's speedwell as seen along the Hurricane Hill Trail, Olympic National Park........July 25, 2008.

Characteristics:

Cusick's speedwell is an attractive perennial wildflower. It stems are simple, curved at the base or erect and from 6-20 cm high, arising from a mass of shallow rhizomes. The leaves are all found on the stems, where they are opposite and elliptic, ovate or obovate in shape. They range from 1-2.5 cm long and5-14 mm wide. The blades are glabrous with entire margins.

The inflorescence is a terminal raceme, compact in flower, elongating in fruit. The corollas are 5-petaled with the petals separate and spreading widely. The corolla is a deep blue and 8-13 mm wide. The sepals are unequal. The stamens are long-exserted and the style is 6-10 mm long.


Habitat:

Cusick's speedwell may be found on high, moist, open rocky slopes or occasionally in alpine meadows or streambanks. It is often found above timberline.


Range:

Cusick's speedwell may be found from the Olympic and Cascade Mts. of Washington east through the Blue and Wallowa Mts. of northeastern Oregon to northern and central Idaho and western Montana.


Cusick's Speedwell: Veronica cusickii

The photo above shows Cusick's speedwell as seen along the Hurricane Hill Trail, Olympic National Park..........July 25, 2008.

Cusick's Speedwell: Veronica cusickii

The photo above shows another close-up of the flowers of Cusick's speedwell as seen along the Hurricane Hill Trail, Olympic National Park.........July 25, 2008.

Paul Slichter