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Veronica filiformis Sm.

Slender speedwell, threadstalk speedwell, creeping speedwell

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderLamialesAromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
FamilyPlantaginaceaePlantains
GenusVeronicaFor Saint Veronica, said to have given Jesus a cloth to wipe his face on the way to Calvary, and named because of a supposed resemblence between markings on some Veronica species and her sacred handkerchief
SpeciesfiliformisThread-like

About plant names...

Slender speedwell is a native of Turkey and the Caucasus, and it has now become naturalized in parts of Europe and North America. It appears to be rather underappreciated on the web, even though it has cool chemicals in it,[1] in part because it has a habit of out-competing grass in lawns ... like mine. There is some evidence that some of these chemicals are natural pesticides, clearing the way for the spread of the speedwell. I found more articles on getting rid of it than I did describing it. Personally, though, I like it better than I like the lawn.

Identification: Slender speedwell generally keeps a low profile, low enough to escape the mower blades. It produces large numbers of blue-violet flowers ¼-½″ (6.3-12 mm) across. Flowers have four petals, dark blue-violet stripes, and yellow-white centers.

Online References:

Web.ncf.ca

Wikipedia

Ontario Wildflowers

Wildflowers of Ireland

1Such as isoscutellarein 4′-methyl ether 7-O-β-(6-O-acetyl-2″-O-allosylglucoside—how cool is that?

 

Veronica filiformis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Veronica filiformis (slender speedwell, threadstalk speedwell, creeping speedwell)

4/8/2010 · Tom & Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Veronica filiformis (slender speedwell, threadstalk speedwell, creeping speedwell)

3/17/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, End, Phoenix, Mary­land · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

Veronica filiformis (slender speedwell, threadstalk speedwell, creeping speedwell)

4/8/2010 · Tom & Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Veronica filiformis (slender speedwell, threadstalk speedwell, creeping speedwell)

4/13/2012 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Veronica filiformis (slender speedwell, threadstalk speedwell, creeping speedwell)

5/17/2016 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Range:

About this map...