水苦荬 shui ku mai

Veronica anagallis-aquatica Linnaeus subsp. undulata (Wallich) Elenevsky.

Perennials, rarely annuals; stems, inflorescence axes, pedicels, calyces, and capsules sparsely with capitate glandular hairs. Rhizomes inclined. Stems erect or procumbent at base, branched or not, 10-100 cm tall, succulent. Leaves sessile, amplexicaul upward; leaf blade mostly elliptic to ovate, sometime ovate-oblong or linear-lanceolate, rarely lanceolate, 2-10 X 1-3.5 cm, margin usually serrate. Racemes axillary, longer than leaves, 1-1.5 cm wide, many flowered. Pedicel 3-5 mm, as long as or shorter than bract, straight, at a right angle with inflorescence axis, patent in fruit. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, equal in size, erect to patent, not appressed to capsule in fruit, apex acute. Corolla pale blue, pale purple, or white, rotate, 4-5 mm in diam.; tube short; lobes broadly ovate, slightly unequal in width. Stamens shorter than corolla. Capsule subglobose, as long as wide and as calyx, slightly compressed, apex rounded and slightly notched. Style 1-1.5 mm. Seeds ca. 30 per capsule, slightly flattened, convex on both sides. Fl. Apr-Sep. 2n = 18.

By water or in swamps; below 2800 m. Throughout China except Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xizang [E Afghanistan, N India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam].

Veronica undulata and V. anagallis-aquatica differ morphologically and geographically, with the latter not occurring in SE China.

Plants with galls are used to stimulate blood circulation, relieve pains, stimulate menstrual flow, and stop bleeding.