Purslane Speedwell

(Veronica peregrina)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Purslane Speedwell (Veronica peregrina L.)

Identification: Plant upright. Flowers arising from leaf axils, nearly sessile with a short flower stalk (pedicel). Flowers with 4 petals and 2 spreading stamens. Petals mostly white with blue streaks on upper and two lateral petals. Lower petal smaller than the other 3. Stem smooth. Leaves linear, simple, and untoothed. Plant 3 to 12 inches in height.

Distribution: Throughout North America. Also distributed in tropical America and the Old World.

Habitat: Purslane Speedwell is a weed of disturbed habitats such as lawns, fields, empty lots, and roadsides.

Flowering period: May to October.

Similar Species: The combination of flowers arising singly in the leaf axils with very short flower stalks, the linear leaves, and the white flowers with blue streaks will separate Purslane Speedwell from other species of Veronica. Corn Speedwell also has solitary flowers from the leaf axils with short pedicels, but the flowers are blue and the leaves are ivy-like.

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