Veronica cusickii

Cusick's Veronica

Cusick's Veronica
aka Cusick’s Speedwell, Brooklime. A small easily overlooked plant, with a single stem only 2″ – 8″ (5 – 20 cm), it produces flowers that are extraordinary for their richness and intricacies. Only 1/4″ – 1/2″ wide the deep blue to violet flowers have four petals (the upper is the widest) with distinctive darker parallel viens. Usually a white eye forms the center with a long single style and two shorter stamens protruding outward. Found in a variety of habitats above 5,000′ elevation including wet and dry meadows (Sunrise) often hidden in grasses.

Family:

Plantaginaceae - PLANTAIN FAMILY

Genus:

Veronica after Saint Veronica, vericonica, 'the true likeness'

Species:

cusickii after William Cusick, Oregon plant collector in early 1900s
Photo location: A favorite subject so taken whenever possible including Glacier Basin, Sourdough Ridge, Naches Loop Trail, the Burroughs Loop Trail, WLT west of Frozen Lake, etc.