Derwent Speedwell

Woody herb to c. 140 cm high; stems several or many from a large woody rootstock, mostly erect and unbranched below inflorescence, glabrous or with short, fine curved or twisted hairs in longitudinal bands or rarely over whole surface; each stem persisting for 1 or 2 seasons.

Leaves lanceolate to ovate, mostly 5–20 cm long, 12–45 mm wide, apex acute or acuminate, base cuneate to truncate or cordate, margins with 30–80 pairs of apiculate teeth; sessile or with short broad petiole.

Racemes mostly 8–25 cm long, 40–100-flowered. Calyx lobes 2–5 mm long and 0.7–1 mm wide in fruit, glabrous or with scattered short glandular hairs. Corolla 5–9 mm long, white or pale lilac or pale blue.

Capsule narrow- to broad-obovate, 2.8–5.5 mm long, 2.5–4.5 mm wide, apex acute or truncate or emarginate, glabrous or with short hairs on upper margin, slightly glossy.

Is very cold tolerant, growing at elevation on steep slopes and in rocky soil. Common along road cuttings in the Brindabella ranges.