Corn speedwell

July 31, 2015

Veronica arvensis L.

Life cycle

Prostrate, spreading winter annual.

corn speedwell plant
Corn speedwell plants.

Leaves

Lower and middle leaves are opposite, broadly egg-shaped, hairy, short-stalked with rounded teeth along the margins. Small, narrow, bract-like upper leaves are alternate and without petioles.

corn speedwell leaves
Actual size of lower (left) and upper (right) leaves of corn speedwell.

Stems

Prostrate and mat-forming, with many branches that spread from the base.

Flowers and fruit

Light blue to violet, inconspicuous flowers are formed in the axils of the upper bract-like leaves on elongated flowering stems. Fruit are hairy, roundly heart-shaped capsules that contain many tiny, yellowish seeds.

corn speedwell flower
Corn speedwell flowering stem.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Similar weeds

Purslane speedwell (Veronica peregrina L.) Differs by having a more erect habit; hairless, oblong to linear leaves with smooth to slightly toothed margins; and tiny white flowers.

purslane speedwell stem purslane speedwell plant
Purslane speedwell stem (left). Purselane speedwell plant (right).

purslane speedwell flowers purslane speedwell seed pods
Purselane speedwell flowers (left). Purselane speedwell capsules (right).

Slender speedwell (Veronica filiformis Sm.) Differs by having a perennial nature with stems that root at the nodes, round to kidney-shaped leaves and bluish white flowers on slender flower stalks.

slender speedwell stem slender speedwell plant
Slender speedwell stem (left). Slender speedwell foliage (right).

Print a PDF of this page: Corn speedwell

Back to identifying nursery weeds.

Accessibility Questions:

For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.