Scrophulariaceae

V. beccabunga L., Sp. Pl. 12(1753). Ic: Fl. USSR 22: t. 21 f. 2 (1955); Hegi, A £ III. FI. Mittel-Eur., ed. 2, 6(1):234 f. 119 (1968).
Perennial with creeping rhizome, blackening when dry. Stems always completely glabrous, decumbent to ± ascending, (5-)10-20(-30) cm, repent at base, usually slightly branched, thick, solid, often red, pruinose. All leaves shortly but clearly petiolate, fleshy, dark green, shining, completely glabrous; petiole 2-4(-8) mm; lamina broadly oblong, ovate or subelliptic, (10-)l5-35(-5O) x (6-)8-20(-26) mm, base rounded-truncate, apex obtuse-rounded, rounded or subtrun-cate, margins denticulate, subserrulate (rarely crenulate) or subentire. Racemes 2-6(-12), (5-)10-15(-22)-flowered, always completely glabrous. Fruiting pedicels (2.5-)3-7(-10) mm, 0.8-1.5(-2) x bracts, subpatent, arcuate-erect or suberect. Calyx 2-2.5 mm in flower. Corolla deep or bright blue (rarely pale blue) with white centre, 5-6 mm diam. Style (1.3-)1.5-3(-3.5) mm. Capsule slightly transversely broadly elliptic or orbicular, rarely broadly elliptic, inflated, (2.5-)3-4(-5.5) x 3-4(-4.5) mm, equalling calyx (rarely 1 .5 x calyx), apex not or slightly emarginate. Seeds 40-70(-100), broadly-elliptic, plano-convex, 0.5-0.6x0.4-0.5 mm, with dot-like chalaza. 2n= 18. Fl. 5-10. Streams, marshes, ditches, wet meadows, preferably in running water, 20-3200 m.
Described from Europe (Hb. Linn. 26/34, photo!).
Widespread. A1(E) Kirklareli: Soğucak, A.Baytop (ISTE 22522a)! A3 Bolu: Abant, 1350 m, A.Baytop (ISTE 32262)! A4 Kastamonu: İlgaz Da., 35 km S. of Kastamonu, 1740 m, Edmondson 497! A5 Samsun: Ladik, 900 m, Tobey 554! A6Ordu: 30 km S. of Ordu to Gölköy, 1000 m, Hub.-Mor. 15528! A7 Giresun: 25 km S. of Giresun, 500 m, Sorger 69-23-53! A8 Çoruh: mt. above Artvin, 1700 m, D. 29764! A9 Çoruh: Şavşat, Çenkelek Y., 2400 m, Yüksel (IS T E 35316)! B5 Kayseri: Bakir Da., Kisge to Bakir Oluğu Y., 1700 m, D. 19475! B6 Maraş: Binboğa Da., Işik Da. above Karli Y., 2200 m, D. 20004! B7 Tunceli: Munzur Da. above Ovacik, 2600 m, D. 31196! B8 Bingöl: W. side of Bingöl Da., 2300 m, D. 46174! B9 Erzurum: Çakmak Da., nr Karayazi, c. 2440 m, Rix 854 (2n= 18 fide N.G. Marchant, as V. beccabungoides)! B9/10 Van: 25 km from Başkale to to Van, Halanduran Da., 3000 m, McNeilI 653 p.p. (with V. oxycarpa)! C2 Denizli: Babadağ, 1500 m, D. 18435! C3 Isparta: N.E. of Anamas, 1500 m, Sorger 68-37-7! C5 Niğde: Bolkar Da., Kizil Tepe, c. 2400 m, 1853, Kotschy! C5/6 Adana: Adana to Osmaniye, Sorkun Y., Kayacık 385 p.p. (with V. tricha-dema)!B/C6 Maraş: d. Çardak, Berit Da., nr Arpa Çukuru Y., 2300 m, D. 20264! C10 Hakkari: Samdi Da., c. 2745 m, Rix 102, 103!
Europe, N. Africa, Caucasia, Iran, W. Siberia, C. & E. Asia. No literature records have been considered because of frequent misidentifications. V. becca- bimga seems to be strictly separated from all other species of the section as no intermediates are known.
Sect. Veronica. (Sect. Chamaedrys Griseb.). Perennials. Leaves entire to pinnati-sect. Racemes axillary; shoot apex vegetative, often short and overtopped by a single, pseudoterminal raceme. Calyx lobes 4 or 5. Corolla tube with 5 veins at base. Capsule dehiscing mainly loculicidally. Seeds flat or excavate, smooth or rugose.