Wall Speedwell
Wall Speedwell on gravel
Close-up of flower from above
Side view of flower
Extended flower stem with calyces
Flower 'hidden' in bracts and leafy shoot
Hairy stem, ciliated capsule
Dark green, toothed leaves
Veronica arvensis
Plantaginaceae
March to October
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Wall Speedwell
It is a weed of garden and agricultural soils, and also grows
on gravel, tracks, banks, dunes, walls and pavements.
It also grows in the mortar of walls.
In grassland it may be confined to the drier, nutrient-poor
tops of anthills.
Wall Speedwell is a native, annual, prostrate and erect
herb, growing up to 30cm.
The flowers are deep blue and small, at 2 to 3mm across.
The calyx is bigger with the sepals longer than the petals.
The capsule is ciliate and about the same size as the
calyx.
Leaves are dark green, toothed and usually small,
although they may reach up to 1.5cm.
The stem is sticky and hairy.
Wall Speedwell is variable in size and is best recognised by
the tiny, deep blue flowers and the small, dark green
leaves.
The seeds can remains viable in the soil for several years,
which accounts for Wall Speedwell's ubiquity in cultivated
soils.
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Next page: Wild Cherry
Wall Speedwell on gravel
Close-up of flower from above
Side view of flower
Extended flower stem with calyces
Flower 'hidden' in bracts and leafy shoot
Hairy stem, ciliated capsule
Dark green, toothed leaves
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