Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Veronica scutellata

Family

Plantaginaceae (Veronicaceae)

Flowering season

June to August

English distribution

It is found throughout the country but is most common in

the Northwest, the far Southwest, Norfolk and parts of

the South.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland –

Marsh Speedwell

Habitat

It grows by ponds and marshes, bogs and wet grassland.

Description

Marsh Speedwell is a native, perennial herb growing up

to 60cm.

The flowers are small, up to 8mm, in loose groupings

on long pedicels.

In the field, in sunshine, the flowers appear mainly

white. They are small and difficult to photograph. I have

reduced the brightness to bring out the purple lines on

the petals. Three of the petals are marked and the

other is white and smaller.

There are 2 stamens with white filaments and anthers.

The ovary is green and 2-celled. There is a white style

and a slightly capitate stigma.

Sepals are oval and green.

Fruits are kidney-shaped 2-celled capsules. 

Leaves are linear-lanceolate and green and brown.

The stems either trail along the ground or scramble onto

other vegetation.

The plants pictured here were decidedly worse for wear. 

There had been 3 weeks of warm sunny weather and the 

pond was drying up. The cattle had not only trampled the 

Marsh Speedwell but the Bog Bean and Bullrush too.