Veronica americana (Raf.) Schwein. ex Benth.

Glabrous perennial; stems decumbent, lax, ascending to c. 30 cm tall, rooting at lower nodes. Petioles 5-7 mm long. Lamina 3-9 × 1-3 cm, usually ovate-or lanceolate-oblong, serrate; base broad-cuneate to subcordate, often obscuring petiole; apex obtuse to subacute. Racemes axillary, opposite, towards shoot apices, many-flowered; peduncles to c. 20 cm long; pedicels usually 5-10 mm long, slender. Bracts linear, < pedicels at flowering, elongating somewhat after. Calyx 2.5-4 mm long; lobes lanceolate to oblong, obtuse or subobtuse. Corolla 8-11 mm diam., deep blue with white eye; veins purplish. Capsule c. 4 mm diam., orbicular, glabrous. Seeds ± ellipsoid, convex on 1 side, flat on the other.

Shallow water, rills and swamps. In slow-moving waters near banks, in shallow water, partly submerged plants.

The young growth tips can be washed and added to salads. They can also be boiled and eaten as a vegetable. They are used as flavouring for bacon fat or butter. The leaves are brewed into tea.

Can be grown by divisions or seedlings.