Veronica gracilis

Slender rhizomatous perennial; rhizomes to c. 60 cm long; flowering stems usually 3–25 cm high, hairs mostly limited to lateral bands, fine but rigid, recurved or spreading, (0.1–)0.2–0.5(–0.7) mm long. Leaves lanceolate to linear, mostly 1–3 cm long and 1.5–9 mm wide, apex attenuate, base tapering rather abruptly, margins entire or with 1–4 pairs of spreading or recurved acute teeth; petiole 1–2 mm long. Racemes lateral, mostly 1.5–5 cm long, mostly 1–6-flowered; peduncle 15–20 mm long; bracts 4–6 mm long; pedicels to 15 mm long. Calyx-lobes (4.5–)5.5–7(–8) mm long, c. 2.5 mm wide in fruit, margins with very short spreading or recurved hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long towards base, and short rigid hairs near apex; corolla 5–8 mm long, pale lilac or blue with darker veins. Capsule obovate, 3–4 mm long, 2–3 mm wide, slightly emarginate, with scattered fine erect hairs towards apex, glossy; style 3.5–4.5 mm long. Flowers spring and summer.