European speedwell, Water Pimpernel, Becky Leaves, Cow Cress, Horse Cress.

Several subspecies of the plant occur. Studies of these species show that the plants present in eastern North America are of the beccabunga subspecies, which is distributed in Europe (Les and Stuckey 1985). V. beccabunga can be distinguished from the native Veronica americana by its leaf blades. In V. beccabunga, the blades are broadest above the middle and rounded at the apex. In V. americana, the leaf blades are broadest below the middle and the general outline of the leaf is thus more acute toward the apex. The style of V. beccabunga (part of the pistil that connects the stigma to the ovary) is distinctly shorter than the capsule, whereas V. americana styles are similar size as or slightly shorter than the capsules (Reznicek et al. 2011).

In Iran, V. beccabunga begins blooming in April or May, but in northern climates it is reported to flower as early as May or as late as August (Taheri & Shadkami-Till 2012; Anderberg 2005; Grieve 1995). This plant also is a resource for pollinating insects and some species of leaf eating insects throughout its native range (Taheri & Shadkami-Till 2012; Bienkowski & Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2015; Grieve 1995). The fly, Syritta pipians, Honey Bees, the larvae of the moth Athalia annulata, and the larvae of the beetle Phaedon armoraciae all have been reported to pollinate or feed on V. beccabunga (Bienkowski & Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2015; Grieve 1995).

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Environmental	Beneficial

Although Veronica beccabunga is capable of forming large clonal stands (Grime et al, 1988) that can cover streams and significantly reduce native and wetland species (Mehrhoff et al, 2003), impacts are generally local.

There is little or no evidence to support that Veronica beccabunga has significant socio-economic impacts in the Great Lakes.

Veronica beccabunga has a moderate beneficial impact in the Great Lakes.

Veronica beccabunga is grown as an ornamental plant for butterfly and water gardens.  V. beccabunga was shown to have higher rates of accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus (P) than other herbaceous plants growing in stream banks and peat bogs. V. beccabunga shoots had P and N concentrations of 4661 mg/kg and 17,000 mg/kg respectively (Parzych and Jonczak, 2018).

The leaves were once cultivated as an edible, bitter green. V. beccabunga has been used for a variety of different medical purposes. It was used as an antiscorbutic and often eaten with watercress. It was also applied to wounds, bruises, and burns. V. beccabunga has been reported to be used for scrofulous affections, impurity of blood, swelling, and gout (Grieve, 1995). In the past, this plant was occasionally used to treat scurvy (Usher 1974). Nanoparticles extracted from V. beccabunga have been shown to have antioxidants and antimicrobial properties (Seçkin, H. and I. Meydan, 2021). V. beccabunga was compared to other ethnomedicinal Romanian plants and had the highest total antioxidant capacity out of any of the plants (Papp et al., 2019).

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Control
Biological
Interspecific competition with the similar North American Veronica americana is believed to have limited and slowed the spread of V. beccabunga. These species fulfill similar niches, so the presences of the native V. americana in undisturbed habitats may regulate the establishment of V. beccabunga (Les & Stuckey 1985).

Chemical
Doganlar (2012) evaluated the phytotoxicity and genotoxicity of atrazine, metalaxyl, ethion, disulfoton, and chloropyrifos on V. beccabunga. A mixture of these pesticides was found to cause decreases in total chlorophyll and protein at 1 ppm pesticide in 1 to 3 days of exposure. V. beccabunga was found to efficiently accumulate each chemical with chloropyrifos and atrazine being the highest accumulated pesticides respectively. Additionally, long-term exposure to strong doses (100 to 1000 ppb concentrations) of pesticides were found to have significant toxic effects on the antioxidant systems, hormone regulation, and DNA profiles in V. beccabunga.

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