Family: figworts (Scrophulariaceae)
Bloom time: all year
Size: 10–30 cm
Habitat: fields, gardens and along paths
The prostrate stem of Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) does not root at the nodes and does not form dense carpets. Relatively sturdy stems are covered with two types of non-glandular hairs; with long protruding ones and with short curly ones. They are leafed with entire, oval leaves that are petiolate and clearly longer than their width. Stem leaves are sharply serrated, hairy or hairless. Tetramerous flowers develop in the leaf axils of the supporting leaves, which look like the stem leaves. Sky-blue flowers have a white center, decorated by longitudinal dark blue veins. Flowers diameter 8 to 15 mm. The pistil's neck is 2–3 mm long. The pedicels are only hairy with non-glandular hairs. The fruit is 8 to 10 mm wide, the top is notched, and it is hairy along the edge and across its entire surface. Fruiting pedicels are at least 5 mm long and thus much longer than the supporting leaf.
From the homeland of the Persian speedwell, southwestern Asia, it was carried to Europe by humans. It grows on fertile, moist soils in bright and warm places. Except for high mountainous regions, it is widespread throughout Slovenia.
