Broadsepal Speedwell
Veronica opaca
Broadsepal Speedwell (Veronica opaca) is a small herbaceous perennial plant characterized by its distinctive broad sepals and small blue to violet flowers arranged in terminal racemes. This low-growing speedwell typically reaches 10-30 cm in height with ovate, serrated leaves and plays an important ecological role as a nectar source for small pollinators and as ground cover in specialized plant communities.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Jan Doležal, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jan Doležal
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Family
Plantaginaceae
Genus
Veronica
Broadsepal Speedwell belongs to the family Plantaginaceae, order Lamiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Broadsepal Speedwell (Veronica opaca) is a small herbaceous perennial plant characterized by its distinctive broad sepals and small blue to violet flowers arranged in terminal racemes. This low-growing speedwell typically reaches 10-30 cm in height with ovate, serrated leaves and plays an important ecological role as a nectar source for small pollinators and as ground cover in specialized plant communities.
Broadsepal Speedwell (Veronica opaca) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and small population size, restricted to a few locations in Turkey. The species faces severe threats from habitat destruction through agricultural expansion, urban development, and infrastructure projects in its narrow range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Broadsepal Speedwell occurs in seasonally moist calcareous grasslands, limestone outcrops, and the margins of ephemeral pools on alkaline soils. The species typically inhabits areas with thin, well-drained soils over limestone bedrock where it experiences periodic moisture stress during summer months.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Broadsepal Speedwell (Veronica opaca) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and small population size, restricted to a few locations in Turkey. The species faces severe threats from habitat destruction through agricultural expansion, urban development, and infrastructure projects in its narrow range.
Habitat loss from agricultural expansion
Small population size and restricted range
Urban development and construction
Climate change impacts
Infrastructure development
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Broadsepal Speedwell (Veronica opaca). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/broadsepal-speedwell