veronica cymbalaria (Plantaginaceae): a new

SPecieS for the exotic flora of chile

veronica cymbalaria (Plantaginaceae): una nueva eSPecie Para la

flora exótica de chile

,2,3,4

Mauricio A. Cisternas

* , Arón Cádiz-Véliz , Patricio Novoa

Jorge Macaya-Berti

Summary

Background and aims: Botanic gardens play a fundamental role in conservation due

to the maintenance of seed and live plant collections. However, the exchange of

ornamental plant seeds between botanic gardens can facilitate the entry of seeds

of alien species with invasive potential. In 2018, during a visit to the collections of

the National Botanical Garden (Chile), we discovered populations of an herb of the

genus Veronica (Plantaginaceae). The aim of this paper is to report for the ﬁrst time

the presence of Veronica cymbalaria as a new exotic feral species for the ﬂora of

Chile.

M&M: Live material was studied and compared with the original description of the

species. The collected material was deposited in the herbarium of the National

Botanical Garden (JBN).

Results: Veronica cymbalaria, which grows abundantly in and around the biological

collections of the National Botanical Garden, is described. Images of the species,

a map of the site of occurrence and a key to distinguish Veronica species growing

in Chile are included.

Jardín Botánico Nacional, Viña

del Mar, Chile

. Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas y

Veterinarias, Universidad Viña del

Mar, Viña del Mar, Chile

. Centro Regional de Investigación

e Innovación para la Sostenibilidad

de la Agricultura y los Territorios

Rurales, Ceres, Quillota, Chile

. Instituto Multidisciplinario

de Biología Vegetal (CONICET),

Universidad Nacional de Córdoba,

Córdoba, Argentina

. Instituto de Biología, Facultad

de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad

Católica de Valparaíso, Campus

Curauma, Valparaíso, Chile

Conclusions: Veronica cymbalaria is reported for the ﬁrst time for the ﬂora of Chile.

The distribution range of this alien species is extended to southern America. The

genus Veronica is represented by ten allochthonous species in Chile.

Cedrem Consultores Ltda.,

Santiago, Chile

Key wordS

*mcisternasb@yahoo.com

Alien plants, central Chile, ﬂora of Chile, taxonomy, Valparaíso Region, weeds.

reSumen

Citar este artículo

CISTERNAS, M. A., A. CÁDIZ-

VÉLIZ, P. NOVOA & J. MACAYA-

BERTI. 2023. Veronica cymbalaria

Introducción y objetivos: Los jardines botánicos cumplen un rol fundamental en

conservación debido a la mantención de colecciones de semillas y plantas vivas.

Sin embargo, el intercambio de semillas de plantas ornamentales entre jardines

botánicos puede facilitar el ingreso de semillas de especies foráneas con potencial

invasor. En octubre de 2018, durante una visita a las colecciones del Jardín

Botánico Nacional (Chile), descubrimos poblaciones de una hierba del género

Veronica (Plantaginaceae). El objetivo de este artículo es reportar por primera vez

la presencia de Veronica cymbalaria como nueva especie exótica posiblemente

asilvestrada para la ﬂora de Chile.

(

Plantaginaceae): A new species for

the exotic flora of Chile. Bol. Soc.

Argent. Bot. 58: 267-272.

DOI: https://doi.

org/10.31055/1851.2372.v58.

n2.37621

M&M: Se estudió el material vivo y se comparó con la descripción original de la

especie. El material colectado fue depositado en el herbario del Jardín Botánico

Nacional (JBN).

Resultados: Se describe a Veronica cymbalaria que crece abundamente en las

colecciones biológicas del Jardín Botánico Nacional y en sus alrededores. Se

incluyen imágenes de la especie, un mapa del sitio de ocurrencia y una clave para

distinguir a las especies de Veronica que crecen en Chile.

Conclusiones: Veronica cymbalaria se cita por primera vez para la ﬂora de Chile. El

área de distribución de esta especie exótica se extiende hasta el sur de América. El

género Veronica está representado por diez especies alóctonas en Chile.

PalabraS clave

Chile central, ﬂora de Chile, maleza, plantas exóticas, Región de Valparaíso,

taxonomía.

Recibido: 12 May 2022

Aceptado: 14 Feb 2023

Publicado impreso: 30 Jun 2023

Editor: Franco Ezequiel Chiarini

ISSN versión impresa 0373-580X

ISSN versión on-line 1851-2372

267

Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. 58 (2) 2023

introduction

and identified using the taxonomic key from

Borissova (1955) and compared with nearby Veronica

The role of botanic gardens in the world is diverse, species described for Chile and Argentina (Romero &

including support for scientiﬁc research, involvement Klempau, 1981; Rodríguez et al., 2018; Zuloaga et

in education, public relations, improvement of human al., 2018). The collected material was herborized and

welfare, and plant conservation (Maunder et al., deposited in the herbarium of the National Botanical

2001). However, botanic gardens have also been Garden of Chile (JBN). Additionally, photographs

considered an avenue for the introduction of invasive of live plants are included, and the collection site

allochthonous plants which is a major threat to global was georeferenced. The species occurrence map

biodiversity (Dogra et al., 2010; Hulme, 2015). Seed was elaborated using the QGIS 3.16 program. A

exchange through Index Seminum constitutes one morphological key was constructed based on the

of the main methods to increase seed and live plant literature mentioned above following the taxonomic

collections between botanic gardens. However, this treatment from Rodríguez et al. (2018).

method could also allow the introduction of invasive

plant species that have been initially found in the

botanic garden and subsequently naturalized in wider reSultS and diScuSSion

territories (Reichard & White, 2001).

The genus Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae) comprises Taxonomic treatment

about 450 species distributed worldwide, especially Veronica cymbalaria Bodard. Mém. Véronique

in the Northern Hemisphere, with centers of diversity Cymb.: 3. 1798. TYPE: “Veronica Chia, Cymbalariae

in western Asia and New Zealand in Southern folio, verna, flore albo, umbilico virescente” in

Hemisphere (Albach & Meudt, 2010). Veronica Buxbaum, Pl. Min. Cogn. Cent. 1: 25, t. 39, f. 2. 1728

species have a wide variety of life forms, ranging (Lectotype, designated by Sánchez Agudo et al.,

from herbaceous annuals or perennials to shrubs or Taxon 61: 868. 2012); SPAIN. Málaga, Antequera,

small trees (Albach & Meudt, 2010). Some species El Torcal, 30SUF6291, 1200 m, bajo matas de

are naturalized in Argentina, southern Brazil, Chile, Crataegus, 6-IV-1999, E. Rico ER6809 (Epitype,

Paraguay and Uruguay (Zuloaga et al., 2018), SALA 109296! designated by Sánchez Agudo et al.,

and invasive in diﬀerent habitats such as natural Taxon 61: 868. 2012; isoepitype, MA 855279!).

environments, roadsides, wetlands and cultivated

ﬁelds (Wu et al., 2010; Takakura, 2013; Polechońska

et al., 2020).

Annual herbs, stems 10-30(60) cm tall, decumbent,

covered with long papillae. Leaves long-petiolate,

In Chile, the genus is represented by nine laminas semiorbicular, subcordate or reniform,

naturalized species, six perennial and three annual with (5)7-8(9) lobes shallow obtuse, middle lobe

species, all of which are considered weeds (Romero slightly larger than others, base truncate or cuneate.

Klempau, 1981; Matthei, 1995; Rodríguez et al., Flowers solitary in the axil of regular or reduced

2018). The aim of this article is to report for the ﬁrst leaves, pedicel 12-40 mm long, exceeding leaves,

time the presence of Veronica cymbalaria Bodard patent or recurved. Calyces 2.5-6 mm long, with

for the ﬂora of Chile, an allochthonous annual herb sepals ovate or obovate, apex obtuse, margin ciliate.

growing feral in the biological collections of the Corollas rotate, tube scarcely exceeding calyx, white,

National Botanical Garden, Viña del Mar, Chile. limb 4-lobed, 3 lobes orbicular-ovate and 1 lobe

Besides, a taxonomic key of the Veronica species ovate. 2-stamens 1-2 mm long, exserted, ﬁlament

occurring in Chile is included.

curved, anthers ovoid. Styles 1-2 mm long, distinctly

exserted, stigma capitate. Capsules subglobose, ovoid

to ellipsoid, broader than long, 4-lobed, apex slightly

emarginated, pilose. Seeds 1-2 per locule, globose,

materialS and methodS

2.5-3 mm wide, weakly rugose, cyathiform.

To determine the identity of this species, literature

on Veronica species was reviewed: Borissova, 1955;

Phenology: Veronica cymbalaria (Fig. 1) begins to

Martínez-Ortega & Rico, 2000; Rojas-Andrés & vegetate in June, ﬂowers in mid-September, and fruits

Martínez-Ortega, 2016. Fresh material was collected at the end of October.

268

M. A. Cisternas et al. - Veronica cymbalaria in Chile

Common names in Europe and United States: radiata D. Don. The area of occupancy is about 7.35 ha

“

gallinita blanca”, “glandular speedwell”, “pale with 15-20 individuals per m .

speedwell”.

Material studied. CHILE. Valparaíso Region,

Distribution and habitat: For the moment, this Valparaíso Prov.: Viña del Mar, 33° 2´ 51.41´´ S, 71°

species has only been observed in and around the 30´ 1.11´´ W, X-2018, Cisternas s.n. (JBN 3689); idem,

National Botanical Garden of Viña del Mar (Valparaíso 33º 2’ 42.69” S, 71° 30’ 1.69” W), XII-2019, Cisternas

Region, Chile; Fig. 2), where it grows abundantly s.n. (JBN 4071).

in anthropized sites such as cultivated land, near

watercourses, roadsides and under plantations of Pinus

Veronica cymbalaria is native to the Mediterranean

Fig. 1. Veronica cymbalaria Bodard. A: plant. B: ﬂower, apical view. C: fruit, apical view. Escalas= A: 10

mm; B: 5 mm; C: 2 mm.

269

Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. 58 (2) 2023

Fig. 2. Geographic location of V. cymbalaria in Chile.

basin (Albach, 2007), and has been considered the genus Veronica in Chile are considered highly

uncommon in SW Spain (Valdés et al., 2008), however invasive such as V. anagallis-aquatica, V. arvensis, V.

it has naturalized in other areas of Europe, North serpyllifolia (Fuentes et al., 2014). On the other hand,

Africa, North America and temperate Asia (Mito & Veronica cymbalaria is similar to V. persica, however,

Uesugi, 2004; GBIF, 2021). According to Juan et al. they can easily distinguish by V. cymbalaria has a white

(1995), the germination percentage of V. cymbalaria is corolla, and the capsules are shallowly 4-lobed and

relatively low (<20%) about other species of the genus pilose. On the contrary, V. persica has a blue corolla

which could translate to lower invasiveness. However, with dark stripes and white centers, and the capsules

this should be studied given that diﬀerent species of are 2-lobed, ﬂattened, and broadly heart-shaped.

Keys to the Veronica species occurring in Chile

. Annual herbs.

. Seeds cyathiform or scaphoid-concave.

. Capsule subglobose. Seeds 1-2 per locule, cyathiform, globose, weakly rugose.

V. cymbalaria

'. Capsule compressed on sides. Seeds 3-12 per locule, scaphoid-concave, oblong, shallow rugose.

V. persica

270

M. A. Cisternas et al. - Veronica cymbalaria in Chile

'. Seeds ﬂat or biconvex.

. Stem subglabrous. Basal caulinar leaves cuneate at base, margin entire or subentire.

V. peregrina

'. Stem pubescent. Basal caulinar leaves orbicular or subcordate at base, margin dentate or

crenate-dentate.

V. arvensis

'. Perennials herbs, rarely annuals in wet habitats.

V. serpyllifolia

. Flowers in terminal racemes.

'. Flowers solitary or in axillar racemes.

. Calyx 4-partite. Capsule orbicular to oblong-ellipsoid, inﬂated, no laterally compressed. Seeds

ellipsoid, biconvex or plano-convex.

. Leaves sessile, sometimes basal leaves petiolate; semiamplexicaul, lamina often oblong or

lanceolate, acute or acuminate apex. Inﬂorescence often glandular-pubescent.

V. anagallis-aquatica

'. Leaves short-petiolate, lamina often orbicular or elliptical, acute or rounded apex. Inﬂorescence

glabrous.

V. beccabunga

'. Calyx 4- or 5-partite. Capsule deltoid-obcordate, ovoid, ﬂat, laterally compressed. Seeds oval,

oblong, ﬂat, scaphoid, incurved on one side.

. Plants conﬁned to aquatic or marshy habits. Leaves glabrous, lamina linear to lanceolate.

V. scutellata

'. Terrestrial plants. Leaves conspicuously pubescent, lamina ovate, oblong-ovate or suborbicular.

. Leaves petiolate, lamina ovate or oblong-ovate, margin denticulate or serrate-dentate,

sometimes subentire, base attenuate to cuneate-obtuse.

V. oﬃcinalis

'. Leaves sessile or short petiolate, lamina ovate orsuborbicular, margin crenate-serrate, base

rounded or subcordiform.

V. chamaedrys

concluSionS

allochthonous species in Chile. Early detection of

introduced species allows decisions to be made to

We report a new naturalized allochthonous plant prevent the species from spreading and becoming

species for the ﬂora of Chile. According to this invasive. It is important to take measures to eradicate

study, the genus Veronica is represented by ten this species with invasive potential in the JBN.

271

Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. 58 (2) 2023

author contributionS

The eﬀectiveness of botanic garden collections in

supporting plant conservation: a European case study.

Biodivers. Conserv. 10: 383-401.

All authors have designed and performed the

analysis, wrote the manuscript, and read and

approved its ﬁnal version.

h ttps://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016666526878

MITO, T. & T. UESUGI. 2004. Invasive alien species

in Japan: the status quo and the new regulation for

prevention of their adverse eﬀects. Glob. Environ. Res.

bibliograPhy

8: 171-193.

ALBACH, D. C. 2007. Amplified fragment length

polymorphisms and sequence data in the phylogenetic

analysis of polyploids: multiple origins of Veronica

cymbalaria (Plantaginaceae). New Phytologist 176: 481-

POLECHOŃSKA, L., M. GLEŃSK, A. KLINK, M.

DAMBIEC & Z. DAJDOK. 2020. Allelopathic

potential of invasive wetland plant Veronica peregrina.

Plant Biosyst. 154: 481-487.

98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02172.x

https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2019.1635225

REICHARD, S. H. & P. WHITE 2001. Horticulture as a

pathway of invasive plant introductions in the United

States: most invasive plants have been introduced for

horticultural use by nurseries, botanical gardens, and

individuals. BioScience 51: 103-113.

ALBACH, D. C. & H. M. MEUDT. 2010. Phylogeny of

Veronica in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres

based on plastid, nuclear ribosomal and nuclear low-

copy DNA. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 54: 457-471.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.09.030

BORISSOVA, A. G. 1955. Veronica L. In: SHISHKIN, B.

K. & E. G. BOBROV (eds.), Flora of the U.S.S.R.,

vol. 22, pp. 372-745. Akademii Nauk SSSR, Moscow-

Leningrad.

DOGRA, K. S., S. K. SOOD, P. K. DOBHAL & S.

SHARMA. 2010. Alien plant invasion and their impact

on indigenous species diversity at global scale: A

review. J. Ecol. Nat. Environ. 2: 175-186. https://doi.

org/10.5897/JENE.9000012

FUENTES, N., P. SÁNCHEZ, A. PAUCHARD, J.

URRUTIA, ... & A. MARTICORENA. 2014. Plantas

Invasoras del Centro-Sur de Chile: Una Guía de

Campo. Laboratorio de Invasiones biológicas (LIB),

Concepción.

GBIF. 2021. Veronica cymbalaria Bodard. GBIF Backbone

Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://www.gbif.org/

species/3172068 via GBIF.org [Accessed: 22 July 2021].

HULME, P. 2015. Resolving whether botanic gardens are

on the road to conservation or a pathway for plant

invasions. Biol. Conserv. 29: 816-824. https://doi.

org/10.1111/cobi.12426

https://doi.org/10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0103:HA

APOI]2.0.CO;2

RODRÍGUEZ, R., C. MARTICORENA, D. ALARCÓN, C.

BAEZA, … & A. MARTICORENA. 2018. Catálogo

de las plantas vasculares de Chile. Gayana Bot. 75:

1-430.

http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-66432018000100001

ROJAS-ANDRÉS, B. & M. MARTÍNEZ-ORTEGA.

2016. Taxonomic revision of Veronica subsection

Pentasepalae (Veronica, Plataginaceae sense APG III).

Phytotaxa 285: 1-100.

https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.285.1.1

ROMERO, M. & H. KLEMPAU. 1981. El género Veronica

L. (Scrophulariaceae) en Chile. Anales Mus. Hist. Nat.

Valparaiso 14: 85-98.

TAKAKURA, K. 2013. Two-Way but asymmetrical

reproductive interference between and invasive

Veronica species and a native congener. Am. J. Plant Sci.

4: 535-542. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2013.43069

VALDÉS, B., C. SANTA-BÁRBARA, C. VICENT & A.

MUÑOZ. 2008. Catálogo ﬂorístico del Andévalo y

Sierra de Huelva (plantas vasculares). Lagascalia 28:

117-409.

WU, H., S. QIANG & G. PENG. 2010. Genetic diversity in

Veronica hederifolia (Plantaginaceae), an invasive weed

in China, assessed usingAFLPmarkers. Ann. Bot. Fenn.

47:190-198. https://doi.org/10.5735/085.047.0303

ZULOAGA, F., O. MORRONE & M. BELGRANO (eds.).

2018. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares del cono sur

(Argentina, Sur de Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay).

http://www2.darwin.edu.ar/Proyectos/FloraArgentina/

fa.htm [Accessed: 10 May 2022].

JUAN, R., I. FERNÁNDEZ & J. E. PASTOR. 1995.

Ecología de la germinación en especies del género

Veronica (Scrophulariaceae) del SO de España. Acta

Bot. Malac. 20: 43-50.

MARTÍNEZ-ORTEGA, M. M. & E. RICO. 2000. Algunas

tipiﬁcaciones y combinaciones nuevas en las Veronica

L. (Scrophulariaceae) perennes. Anales Jard. Bot.

Madrid 57: 477-479.

MATTHEI, O. 1995. Manual de las malezas que crecen en

Chile. Alfabeta Impresores, Santiago.

MAUNDER, M., S. HIGGENS & A. CULHAM. 2001.

272