Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae] |
status
flower
inner
morph
petals
stem
sex
self-sterile
3rd May 2013, Hazelhurst Locks, Caldon Canal, Staffs. | Photo: © RWD |
A prostrate mat-forming perennial up to 50cm long. |
3rd May 2013, Hazelhurst Locks, Caldon Canal, Staffs. | Photo: © RWD |
Flowers are mauvish-blue. |
28th April 2011, Downham, Clitheroe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Stem long and slender, flower stalks even more slender. Flower stalks longer than twice as long as the length of the leaf + leaf-stalks. Upper leaves in singles alongside the long flower-stalks. |
26th April 2014, woods, near Runcorn East, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves vary from kidney-shaped to round varying from 5-10mm across and with crenate teeth (rounded); they are smaller on distal parts as shown here. |
3rd May 2013, Hazelhurst Locks, Caldon Canal, Staffs | Photo: © RWD |
All Speedwells have zygomorphic flowers, with bi-lateral symmetry. |
3rd May 2013, Hazelhurst Locks, Caldon Canal, Staffs | Photo: © RWD |
Hairs on sepals have a tiny spherical gland at the end, as do those of the leaves. |
26th April 2014, woods, near Runcorn East, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
Flowers between 8-15mm across. Fruits are rarely produced. |
28th April 2011, Downham, Clitheroe, Lancs. | Photo: © RWD |
Speedwells have only two stamens. |
25th April 2015, Dibbinsdale, Bromborough, Wirral. | Photo: © RWD |
Only two stamens, each with an anther striped like a liquorice allsort bearing white pollen. |
25th April 2015, Dibbinsdale, Bromborough, Wirral. | Photo: © RWD |
Differing viewpoint of anthers, showing that they are curved. |
26th April 2014, woods, near Runcorn East, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
Lower leaves in opposite pairs on shortish stalks. |
26th April 2014, woods, near Runcorn East, Merseyside. | Photo: © RWD |
Short glandular hairs on leaves. Crenately toothed, Stems minutely hairy. |
Similar to : Common Field-Speedwell (Veronica persica) which is also a sprawling perennial, but one which, at 60cm, is up to twice as long, but it has sky-blue flowers which are on much-shorter stalks. Some similarities to : Wood Speedwell (Veronica montana) which is also a sprawling perennial, but that has flowers which are much paler and bluish rather than mauvish-blue and the leaves are much larger. Slight resemblance to : many other Speedwells. A rhizomatous perennial plant spreading by stolons. It is self-sterile and hardly ever sets seeds, it spreads vegetatively, even from short fragments of stems. A long established non-native first introduced 1n 1806 and had spread to one location by 1838. Now a widely naturalised alien occupying the sides of streams, banks, lawns, roadsides and grassy paths. Originally from Turkey and the Caucases. It is still used as a garden plant for its ability to spread easily and cover ground.
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Veronica | filiformis | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Plantaginaceae |
Veronica (Speedwells) |
Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae] |