Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Veronica anagallis-aquatica
Water speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica L.) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Plantaginaceae family.
Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subarign Tracheobionta,
Spermatophyta superdivision,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Asteridae,
Plantaginales Order,
Plantaginaceae family,
Genus Veronica,
V. anagallis-aquatica species.
The terms are synonymous:
– Veronica acutifolia Bubani, 1897;
– Veronica anagallis L.;
– Veronica anagallis f. pubescens Bég.;
– Veronica anagallis var. neilreichii Celak.;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica f. anagallis-aquatica;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica f. minuta Maire;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica subsp. cordata Celak.;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. anagallidiformis (Boreau) Franch., 1875;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. latifolia Britton;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. latifolia Farw.;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. simplex Rouy, 1909;
– Veronica anagallis-aquatica var. terrea Farw.;
– Veronica aquatica Benquerel;
– Veronica breviramosa Papch.;
– Veronica capensis Fenzl;
– Veronica divaricatoramosa Papch.;
– Veronica espadamae Pau, 1887;
– Veronica micromeria Wooton & Standl.;
– Veronica pseudoanagalloides Papch.;
– Veronica pseudocatenata Papch.;
– Veronica pseudoscardica Papch.;
– Veronica reyesiana Pau & Merino, 1906;
– Veronica scardicoides Papch..
Etymology –
The term Veronica is of uncertain etymology; Linnaeus took its name from the botanists of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, who in turn took it from common names, such as fr. véronique (1545); the oldest attestation seems to date back to a Swiss pharmacopoeia (15th century). The most common explanation links the name to the legend of Veronica, that is the pious woman who, during the ascent to Calvary, cleaned the face of Christ with a handkerchief, on which her image remained imprinted (Veronica is both the name of the woman, adaptation of the gr . Berenice, both the relic, by assonance with true icon, true image); the link would be given either by the flowering period of various species, around Holy Week, or by the darker veins of the corolla that may suggest a face. The connection with the Italian mystic Santa Veronica da Binasco (1445-1497) is less frequent. A derivation from Betonica has also been proposed, based on a passage by J. Bauhin (Veronica Foemina quibusdam, aliis Betonica), which is not very convincing on a linguistic level. Genaust, with extreme reserve, puts forward a possible connection with the High German wernickel, wernichel sty based on the use of V. chamaedrys to treat eye diseases.
The specific epithet anagallis-aquatica comes from the union of the two words: Anagallis (Latinized form of the Greek ἀναγαλλίς anagallís, name given by Dioscorides to a plant that was believed to chase away sadness and depression, from the adverb ἀνά aná still, again and from ἀγαλλιάω agalliáo rejoice, exult, celebrate, and from the word: aquatica that lives in the water, for the flowers that resemble those of the anagallidae and for the environment in which the plant lives.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Water speedwell is an Eurosiberian species that has now become sub cosmopolitan. Its true native range is unclear but the plant is present in most continents and is probably naturalized in most places.
In Italy it is present in all regions.
Its habitat is that of reeds and ditches, on muddy soils poor in calcium from the plains at about 1000 m.
Description –
Veronica anagallis-aquatica is a herbaceous, perennial, or annual, robust, glabrous, rarely glansy plant with a large fasciculated root and with prostrate stems at the base, then erect, tubular, enlarged and very branched, which can reach variable heights between 20 and 100 cm.
The basal leaves are briefly petiolate, 4-12 cm long, lamina ovato-lanceolate, with fine irregular indentation, while those of the caule and racemes are similar to the basal ones but opposite, sessile and progressively smaller. The leaves of the lateral sterile shoots are also petiolate.
The inflorescence appears in axillary, opposite, multiflorous racemes (20-60), with a light blue or light lilac corolla, 5-10 mm in diameter, veined; erect-patent fruiting pedicels, inserted at an acute angle on the branches, ± as long as the bracts.
The calyxes are welded to the base, have ovate-lanceolate sepals, glabrous, rarely pubescent. 2 stamens. 1.5-2.5mm stylus. The ovary is outdated.
The antesis is between June and October.
The fruit is a capsule of 2-4 x 2-3.5mm, a little shorter than the calyx, from ovoid to subspherical, slightly fringed, style of 1.4-2.5 mm. Seeds obovoid, ellipsoid, suborbicular, biconvex or convex-concave, 25-90 per capsule, with grainy, brown-yellowish surface measuring 0.25-0.6 x 02-0.5 mm.
Cultivation –
Veronica anagallis-aquatica is a plant that grows in nature, preferably, along the banks of running waters: canals, streams, streams, ditches from the plain up to about 1000 m s.l.m.
This plant is occasionally annual, but more commonly it is a perennial herb.
The plant is harvested in its natural state for local use as a medicine and as a food. It is occasionally grown as a spring vegetable in Japan.
It is a plant classified as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List which has largely naturalized and often became a pest in temperate regions.
For its cultivation it is necessary to choose humid and moderately fertile soils or in shallow water and areas with cool summers.
Propagation occurs by seed. Sowing should be done in autumn. If propagated in seedbeds, the young seedlings must then be grown in individual pots and trapinted in late spring.
It can be propagated by division both in autumn and in spring.
It is possible to plant larger divisions directly in their permanent locations. The smaller divisions should be grown in pallets and transplanted in the spring.
In addition, the tea cuttings obtained from young shoots root easily in the growing season, just put them in water.
Customs and Traditions –
Veronica anagallis-aquatica has long been known for both its medicinal and food properties.
Herbalists of the 18th century recommended diet drinks to detoxify the blood and to fight urinary infections. It has digestive, refreshing, diuretic and pectoral properties.
Once the young shoots were used as a vegetable, hence the name of Cress, a use now completely abandoned. By many it was often confused with V. beccabunga which is an excellent edible plant; so much so that according to some authors it seems to have the same therapeutic properties as V. beccabunga.
Therefore, among the edible uses, young leaves, both raw and cooked, are consumed, despite its acidulous-spicy taste; it can be eaten raw in salads, combined with other traditional salads to pleasantly modify their taste.
The leaves can be added to salads or used as a herb. In salads, they go best with a lemon dressing rather than vinegar.
In the medicinal field, the roots and leaves are used which are alterative, aperitif and diuretic.
The fruits of this plant swell abnormally when parasitized by insects: these galls are called ‘xian tao cao’ in China and are used in medicine.
Among its phytochemical constituents it should be remembered that it is a plant rich in vitamin C.
Preparation Method –
The leaves of the Veronica anagallis-aquatica are used, especially when they are tender, and used in the food field to prepare mixed salads or added to flavor.
They also prepare decoctions; these in traditional medicine were also used to promote menstruation.
The leaves were once used in the treatment of scurvy, blood impurity, etc.
The whole shredded and pounded plant is applied externally as a poultice on burns, ulcers, etc.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/215601857/original.jpg
– https://bisque.cyverse.org/image_service/image/00-ErfUJzLRYYXUWEnXuZxmjM/resize:4000/format:jpeg
Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.