Veronica pumila Allioni, Fl. Pedem. 1: 75. 1785; V. alpina var. australis Wahlenberg; V. lasiocarpa Pennell.

Perennials. Rhizomes short and slender. Stems simple, slightly procumbent, 10-20 cm tall, sparsely woolly. Leaves sessile, ovate, 0.7-2 X 0.5-1 cm, sparsely pubescent, base obtuse, margin crenate to subentire, apex obtuse. Inflorescences terminal, racemose, short at anthesis, 2-3 cm in fruit, with multicellular hairs; bracts oblanceolate, 4-5 mm. Pedicel ascending, 1.5-2 mm. Calyx 3-4 mm; lobes 4(or 5), elliptic, if 5-lobed upper lobe very small. Corolla slightly longer than calyx; tube 1.5-2 mm, white; lobes orbicular; limb dark blue or blue-purple, margin incised dentate, apex truncate. Capsule obcordate-ovoid, slightly compressed, hirsute with multicellular hairs. Style ca. 0.5 mm. Seeds ca. 0.5 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug.

3000-4500 m. W Xizang [Kashmir, Pakistan, Russia (S Siberia); Europe].