Veronica anagallis-aquatica

History of Spread

Veronica anagallis-aquatica (Water Speedwell) is widespread in Eurasia, and now is also found across North America and in South America and New Zealand (Fernald 1950; Gleason and Cronquist 1991; Swedish Natural History Museum 2001). Typical habitats include: 'along ditches and slowly moving streams, or in other wet places.” (Gleason and Cronquist 1991); 'Shallow water, swamps and shores' (Brown and Brown 1984). Its status in North America is disputed. According to Fernald (1950), it consists of both native and introduced populations, while Gleason and Cronquist (1991) and Stuckey (1993) treated it as wholly introduced. The United States Department of Agriculture 'Plants' database labels it 'native' (Natural Resources Conservation Service 2001). We consider this plant to be cryptogenic in North America.

If it was introduced, V. anagallis-aquatica was a very early introduction to North America, and was collected by John Clayton in VA in the 1730s (Gronovius 1739; Reveal 1983). However, its spread appears to be poorly documented. Gray (1848), gives no range, but gives the habitat as 'brooks and ditches', which may refer to an early 19th century collection by Oakes from Essex County MA, mentioned by Robinson and Fernald (1908). By the early 20th century, this plant was known from western New England to British Columbia and southward (Robinson and Fernald 1908). The mechanism of introduction is unclear. This plant was apparently cultivated and used for the prevention of scurvy, and was used in salads, like Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Watercress), despite, or because of its bitter taste (Fernald et al. 1958; Sturtevant 1919). It also could have been introduced with ornamentals, or on dry ballast, or with water barrels used to carry ships' drinking water.

In the Chesapeake Bay region, V. anagallis-aquatica was collected by John Clayton, Clerk of Court for Gloucester County, in VA in the 1730s, most likely in the watershed near tidewater on the lower VA western shore (Gronovius 1739; Reveal 1983). Other records include: a collection in 1877at Chain Bridge, Arlington VA, at the head of tide of the Potomac River (U.S. National Herbarium collections), a collection in 1920 from a small stream in Williamsburg VA (Erlanson 1924), and a 1985 collection from tidal wetlands on the James River in Henrico County VA, which includes Richmond (Atkinson et al. 1990). This plant is known from 11 VA tidewater counties and is widespread in VA Piedmont and Mountain areas (Harvill et al. 1992), but is reported only from the 'Washington D.C area' of MD.

References- Atkinson et al. 1990; Brown and Brown 1984; Erlanson 1924; Fernald 1950; Fernald et al. 1958; Gleason and Cronquist 1991; Gray 1848; Gronovius 1739; Harvill et al. 1992; Reveal 1983; Robinson and Fernald 1908; Stuckey 1993; Sturtevant 1919; Swedish Natural History Museum 2001; Natural Resources Conservation Service 2001; U.S. National Herbarium collections

Invasion Comments