Veronica pinnata Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 1: 24. 1767; Pseudolysimachion laetum (Karelin & Kirilow) Holub; Veronica laeta Karelin & Kirilow.

Rhizomes woody. Plants with short upwardly appressed white hairs. Stems several, cespitose, erect or slightly procumbent, 10-40 cm tall, often with sterile branches in axil of leaves, base woody. Leaves alternate; leaf blade pinnatisect, 1-3 cm X 1-5 mm, falciform curved; segments linear to oblanceolate, margin dentate to subentire. Inflorescences narrowly spicate. Pedicel as long as or slightly longer than calyx lobes. Calyx 2-2.5 mm. Corolla pale blue, pale purple, or rarely white, 5-7 mm; tube 2-3 mm; lobes apically rounded obtuse, upper lobe orbicular, other 3 lobes ovate-orbicular. Stamens slightly exserted. Capsule 2-4 X 2-4 mm. Seeds ca. 1 mm. Fl. Jun-Aug. 2n = 34.

Stony slopes, forests steppes; below 2000 m. N Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia].