- Scientific Name: Veronica persica Poir.
- Ref: J.B.A.M.de Lamarck, Encycl. 8:542. 1808
- English Common Name: birdeye speedwell, common field-speedwell, Persian speedwell
- Chinese Common Name: 阿拉伯婆婆纳 Ālābó póponà, 波斯婆婆纳 Bōsī póponà
- Japanese Common Name: オオイヌノフグリ [大犬の陰嚢] ōinunofuguri
- Family: Plantaginaceae
- Genus: Veronica
- Distribution: Naturalized in waste fields and roadsides; below 1700 m. Anhui, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Taiwan, W Xinjiang (Yining Xian), E Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [native to SW Asia and since the 19th century spread over most of the world].
- Photo: 03/15/2013
Annuals, sometimes biennials. Stems diffuse, ca. 10-20 cm tall, 20-50 cm, densely pubescent with multicellular hairs often more densely so along 2 lines. Opposite leaves in (2 or)3 or 4(or 5) pairs; petiole 1-8 mm; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to suborbicular, (6-)10-20(-25) X (5-)8-15(-20) mm, evenly sparsely pubescent on both surfaces, margin flat, obtusely crenate-serrate, 3-6(-10)-toothed per side. Racemes terminal, lax, very long; bracts alternate, leaflike, petiolate, uppermost ones smaller than others. Fruiting pedicel (1.2-)1.5-3(-4) cm, usually longer than bract. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes ovate-lanceolate, 5-8(-10) X 2.5-3.5(-4) mm in fruit, sparsely pubescent, veins 3. Corolla usually blue, rotate, 0.8-1.4 cm in diam., throat sparsely hairy; lobes ovate to orbicular. Stamens slightly shorter than corolla. Capsule obcordate, strongly compressed, 4-6 X 6-9 mm, apically notched at right to obtuse angle; lobes obtuse, glandular hairy, venation conspicuously reticulate. Style 2-3 mm, exserted. Seeds slightly navicular, usually 1.4-2.3 X 0.9-1.6 mm; seed coat deeply rugose dorsally. Fl. Mar-May. 2n = 28. (Flora of China)
