Images: ©Jouko Lehmuskallio
Spring Speedwell
Veronica verna
- Family: Figwort Family – Scrophulariaceae
- Height: 5–15 cm (2–6 in.). Stem erect–ascending, unbranched, hairy.
- Flower: Almost regular, ca. 3 mm (0.12 in.) across. Corolla wheel-shaped, with a short tube. Petals 4, united, blue. Sepals 4, united. Stamens 2. Pistil formed from 2 fused carpels. Inflorescence a dense raceme, elongating in fruit.
- Leaves: Opposite. Lower leaves short-stalked, ovate to elliptic, toothed. Upper leaves stalkless, pinnatifid, ovate in outline.
- Fruit: A yellowish-brown, flat, heart–kidney-shaped, glandular-hairy capsule.
- Habitat: Rock outcrops, sandy embankments, pastures, fields, fallows, and vegetable gardens.
- Flowering time: May–June.
The spring speedwell is an erect annual. It looks similar and has a similar distribution to the wall speedwell (V. arvensis). The spring speedwell is, however, a somewhat more northern species, and perhaps slightly a more typical plant of rock outcrops. In other words, it may be less dependent on human activities. The upper stem leaves of the spring speedwell are pinnately divided, whereas those of the wall speedwell are entire.
