Veronica persica Poir.

Bird Eye Speedwell

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Bird Eye Speedwell is an introduced cool season annual in the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae). It is native to Eurasia, but is introduced in North America and Australia. In Alabama in can be found statewide. Bird Eye 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 and tends to sprawl and form low mats. The stems are 4-8 inches in length, terete, green in color, and pubescent. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate in outline, pubescent, with crenate margins. Flowers are solitary from the axils of the upper leaves. The pedicel of the flower is longer than the subtending leaf, becoming even more so in fruit. Each flower has 4 green sepals and 4 petals. The petals are blue, becoming white toward the base and have darker veins. One petal is often smaller than the other three. The fruit is a pubescent capsule. The capsule is flattened and heart-shaped, wider than tall.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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