Veronica arvensis L.

Corn Speedwell; Wall Speedwell

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Corn Speedwell is an introduced cool season annual in the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae). It is native to Africa, Asia, and Europe, but is introduced in North America and Australia. In Alabama in can be found statewide. Corn Speedwell grows in flowerbeds, in lawns, on roadsides, along railroad tracks, and in other disturbed areas. It is an annual that branches near the base into 1-4 upright stems. The stems are 4-8 inches in length, terete, green in color, and pubescent. The leaves are opposite, petiolate towards the base of the stem and sessile towards the apex of the stem. The leaves, ovate in outline, palmately veined, pubescent, with crenate or serrate margins. Flowers are produced in a raceme with narrow, lanceolate bracts subtending them. The pedicel of the flower is very short, the flower shorter than the subtending leaf. Each flower has 4 green sepals and 4 petals. The petals are blue and have darker veins. The fruit is a flattened, heart-shaped capsule that is pubescent on the angles. Corn Speedwell is small and not very showy with flowers that often last for only a few hours. It is easily overlooked.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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