Scrophulariaceae - common speedwell, gypsyweed, **Echter Ehrenpreis**

Ascending or procumbent perennial herb, 5-15cm high, native to the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere; leaves short petioled, shiny dark green, obovate or elliptic, more or minor notched; flowers very with short pedicel, pale violet to violet-blue.

The hot water extract of the dried herb is traditionally used to treat respiratory problems and digestive complaints. [[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_officinalis]]

The plant contains iridoid glycosides like aucubin, musseanosid, ladroside, catalpol and catalpol esters (veronicosid, minecosid, verminosid, verprosid).  [Isolierung, Charakterizierung und Strukturaufklärung der Iridoidglucoside von Veronica officinalis L.(Scrophulariaceae). Afifi-Yazar, F. U.,  Diss. Diss. Naturwiss. ETH Zürich, Nr. 6377, 0000. Ref.: Sticher, O.; Korref.: Perlia, X., 1979]