Field Speedwell

(Veronica agrestis)

Field Speedwell (Veronica agrestis L.)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: A low, usually crawling, but sometimes slightly erect, plant. Flowers solitary, 5 to 7 mm. in width, arising from the leaf axils. Flower stalks (pedicels) long, flower not sessile to the leaf axil. Flower with 4 petals and 2 spreading stamens. Upper and lateral petals pale blue with darker blue streaks. Lower petal small and narrower than other petals, mostly white, with a few dark streaks. Sepals longer than the petals. Stem hairy. Leaves ovate, mostly sessile to the stem, and with coarsely toothed outer margins. Plant 6 to 15 inches in length.

Distribution: Found throughout most of North America.

Habitat: Field Speedwell is a weed found in disturbed habitats such as lawns, fields, empty lots, and roadsides.

Flowering period: May to September.

Similar Species: Persian Speedwell is a very similar species. The flowers of Persian Speedwell are larger (8 to 12 mm. in width) and the sepals are shorter than the petals. Gray Field Speedwell is an even smaller species (about 5 mm. in width), and the flower is an even pale blue. The leaves are small, and less heavily toothed.