Veronica besseya
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronica
Species:
V. besseya
Binomial name
Veronica besseya
M.M.Mart.Ort. & Albach
Synonyms[1]
  • Besseya alpina (A.Gray) Rydb.
  • Synthyris alpina A.Gray

Veronica besseya, commonly known as Alpine coral drops[1] and Alpine kitten tails, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the genus Veronica in the family Plantaginaceae.[2]

Description

Veronica besseya was first discovered for science by Charles Parry in 1861, in the headwaters of South Clear Creek, Colorado.[3]

Range

Endemic to Western North America, with populations found in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.[4]

Habitat and ecology

Veronica besseya is quite diminutive, growing 2-8 inches in height in the alpine tundra of the Rocky Mountains. Leaves and stem range from glabrous (lacking hairs) to densely pilose (with long hairs).[3]

Taxonomy

After its discovery, Veronica besseya was first named Synthyris alpina by Asa Gray. In 1903, it was renamed Besseya alpina by Axel Rydberg.[5] However, it was proposed in 2004 that all Besseya species actually belong in the genus Veronica, the speedwells.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Alpine Coraldrops Veronica besseya" at the Encyclopedia of Life
  2. ↑ "Veronica besseya (Alpine Besseya)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  3. 1 2 "Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, Veronica besseya".
  4. ↑ "2013 BONAP North American Plant Atlas. TaxonMaps". bonap.net.
  5. ↑ Rydberg, P. A. “Some Generic Segregations.” Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, vol. 30, no. 5, 1903, pp. 271–81. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2478553. Accessed 24 May 2022.
  6. ↑ Albach, Dirk C., et al. “A New Classification of the Tribe Veroniceae: Problems and a Possible Solution.” Taxon, vol. 53, no. 2, 2004, pp. 429–52. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/4135620. Accessed 23 May 2022.


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