Veronica aphylla

Veronica aphylla, common name leafless stemmed speedwell, is a plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae.

Description
Veronica aphylla can reach a height of 3 - 8 cm. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with a single, erect, cylindrical, hairy, greenish, flowering stem. It forms a basal rosette of green, elliptical or oval, pubescent leaves, 4 - 10 mm wide and 8 - 15 mm long. Flowers have four blue light petals with darker nerves and two long stamens. They bloom from July to August.

Distribution
This species is native to the mountains of Central and Southern Europe (Alps, Jura, Carpathians, Iberian Peninsula and the Balkans).

Habitat
Veronica aphylla prefers alpine pastures, stony slopes and rocky areas, at elevation of 1500 - 2800 m above sea level.