SLENDER SPEEDWELL

Veronica filiformis

Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae]

month8mar month8march month8apr month8april month8may month8jun month8june

status
statusZneophyte
 
flower
flower8mauve flower8blue
 
inner
inner8white
 
morph
morph8zygo
 
petals
petalsZ4
 
stem
stem8round
 
sex
sexZsterile
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.


  Veronica filiformis  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Plantaginaceae  

Distribution
 family8Plantain family8Plantaginaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Veronica
Veronica
(Speedwells)

SLENDER SPEEDWELL

Veronica filiformis

Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae]