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Glite Dictionary
Veronica agrestis

Veronica agrestis

9.9
A low European plant with small blue flowers on long stalks now found in North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Verónica agrestis
  • Botanists recognize Veronica agrestis by its tiny blue flowers and hairy leaves.

Examples

  • The spread of Veronica agrestis in North America has been attributed to imported soil and seeds.

  • The low-growing Veronica agrestis adds a touch of color with its delicate blue blossoms.

  • Veronica agrestis can often be found in meadows and gardens across Europe and North America.

  • The garden is filled with Veronica agrestis this spring.

  • Did you see the Veronica agrestis blooming by the pathway?

  • Veronica agrestis often flowers in the spring, attracting many pollinators in gardens.

  • You can identify Veronica agrestis by its long stems and charming blue flowers in the wild.

Synonyms

field speedwell
vsVeronica agrestis
9.9

A small plant with tiny blue flowers on long stalks that grows in fields

is the same but uses the formal Latin name instead of the common name

Surface Forms

Veronica agrestis singular
Veronica agrestis plural

Morphology

veronica + agrestis

The name is compositional: 'Veronica' denotes the plant genus and 'agrestis' means 'growing in fields', so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it is a veronica species that grows in fields (a low plant with small flowers). Although a botanical Latin name is specialized, the genus+epithet structure is transparent and cross-linguistically recognizable, making the meaning derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Veronica agrestis uses the Latin word agrestis, which means 'of the fields' or 'wild'. So the name paints a simple picture of a small Veronica that grows low in meadows and gardens, and that is why it is used for a common field plant with tiny blue flowers.