Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae] |
status
flower
inner
morph
petals
stem
28th May 2012, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
Growing en-masse on a grassy embankment. |
28th May 2012, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
In its natural environment. |
12th May 2012, Peters Dale, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
A sprawling plant up to 50cm in length with a sparsely populated spike of brilliant sky-blue flowers. |
12th May 2012, Peters Dale, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves in opposite pairs. |
27th May 2005, Chinley, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
Leaves have crenate teeth and heart-shaped rather like those of Bugle, a plant belonging to the Dead-nettle Family (Lamiaceae) (but the stems are round, not square). Note the two lines of hairs on the main stem (the flower stems have hairs all round). |
27th May 2005, Chinley, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
Flowers more rounded than those of most other Speedwells although possessing a similar bi-lateral symmetry with the widest petal at the top, and the narrowest at the bottom. Flowers have a white centre and most seem to have a white halo around the edges. |
12th May 2012, Peters Dale, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
Stamens white, anthers deep blue. |
28th May 2012, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
Four narrow sepals support the flower at the back. |
27th May 2005, Chinley, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
A hairy plant. Leaf teeth crenate (rounded). |
12th May 2012, Peters Dale, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
If it has two lines of hairs on the main stem, then it is Germander Speedwell. |
12th May 2012, Peters Dale, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
28th May 2012, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. | Photo: © RWD |
Rear of leaf, still hairy. |
Not to be semantically confused with : Germanders such as Uniquely identifiable characteristics Distinguishing Feature : of Speedwells it is the only one with a double-line of hairs (on the main stem only; the flowering stems have hairs all around). The flowers are deep-sky-blue and, at 8-12mm across, one of the largest flowers of the Speedwells, but not the largest. Rock Speedwell (Veronica fruticans), which also has deep-blue flowers (but with a red circle around a white centre) has the largest flowers at 20mm across.
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Veronica | chamaedrys | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Plantaginaceae |
Veronica (Speedwells) |
Plantain Family [Plantaginaceae] |