The axillary flower of purslane speedwell from a vernal pond about 1 mile west of Tom McCall Nature Preserve in the Columbia River Gorge..........June, 2002.
Characteristics:
Purslane speedwell is perennial, fibrous-rooted plant with erect or spreading stems from 5-30 cm high. The stems are either simple, or often branched below. The herbage often consists (as seen in the photos) of short, often gland-tipped hairs on the stems, leaves, and sepals. The leaves are generally opposite on the stems and are oblong, linear-oblong, or oblanceolate in shape, measuring 0.5-3 cm long and from 1-9 mm wide. The leaf margins vary from entire to irregularly toothed.
The lax inflorescence is terminal. The leaf-like bracts alternate up the elongated inflorescence and subtend a single subsessile flower. The corollas are white and only about 2 mm wide. The fruits are heart-shaped and abot 3-4 mm high.
Purslane speedwell is the only wetland member of the genus Veronica to have white flowers.
Purslane speedwell is a species of wet swales, meadows, streambanks, and other wet places.
Purslane speedwell is a wetland species common across much of North and South America and introduced to Europe.
In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 0'-2200' from east of Troutdale, OR to the east end of the Gorge.
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The heart-shaped fruit and linear-oblong leaf of purslane speedwell.
