American alpine speedwell, Veronica wormskjoldii var. wormskjoldii (once called Veronica nutans) is an inconspicuous but pretty purple wildflower of high elevations throughout the west. The plants are narrow and hairy and enjoy moist environments.
The flower clusters don’t generally grow very high and may occasionally be hidden amongst taller grasses. The robust, opposite leaves can sometimes be more noticeable than the tiny flowers and can–supposedly–be safely eaten.
This plant and others in the genus are named after St. Veronica, and the word speedwell is thought to mean ‘thriving’. Despite the scientific name, this species has nothing specific to do with worms, but is named after the Danish botanist Morten Wormskjold. Though why someone would go by the last name ‘worm shield’ is beyond me.
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