Veronica officinalis L.

Common speedwell

About plant names...

Common speedwell is well established in North America, but it is a European import that escaped cultivation, originally from Europe and Asia. It occupied an area at the edge of my lawn until goldenrods eventually got the upper hand.

Identification: These plants are inconspicuous, forming mats by creeping, 2-10" (5-25 cm) in height. Leaves are ovate to elliptic, narrowing at the base, ½-2" (1.3-5 cm) long, opposite, and toothed. Flowers are bilaterally symmetrical, on spikes (racemes); flowers appear only on the upper portions of the flower stems. Flowers are irregular in shape, ⅛" (5 mm) in size, and pale violet in color. They appear from April to July.

Medical: Speedwell is used in a bitter, tangy tea as an expectorant; also as a diaphoretic, diuretic, and general tonic. It contains aucubin, a glycoside with anti-inflammatory, diuretic and liver protective actions. Studies of its liver-protective functions appear promising. Like other common plants, it has been used for many other purposes which have not been confirmed with studies and are now generally discredited: abdominal complaints; as a general cure-all; a cancer treatment; for treatment of eczema; to speed healing of minor wounds; as a "blood purifier;" a kidney stimulant; an antiasthmatic; and a treatment for small pox and measles. It contains vitamins E, K, and C; antioxidant phenols; β-sisterol, sometimes used to reduce cholesterol; and omega-3 fatty acids.

Online References:

CalPhotos

The University of Wisconsin's Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium

The New England Wildflower Society’s GoBotany site

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Discover Life

Herbs-treatandtaste.blogspot.com

Www.anniesremedy.com

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

6/9/2017 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 6" (12 × 14 cm)

6/5/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4½ × 4" (12 × 10 cm)

8/16/2020 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (18 × 12 cm)

7/20/2021 · Otter Brook, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 7 × 6" (19 × 14 cm)

6/20/2021 · Maquoit Bay Preserve, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 4½ × 4" (11 × 11 cm)

5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 3½" (7.9 × 9.1 cm) ID is uncertain

5/27/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 8" (15 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

Veronica officinalis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 15 Jul 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

4/11/2008 · Memphis, Ten­nes­see · By Tim Chandler

5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4½" (12 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

6/9/2017 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 11 cm)

7/16/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts ID is uncertain

6/10/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

6/14/2017 · J. Harry Rich State Forest, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

6/5/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 5 × 4" (12 × 10 cm)

6/20/2021 · Maquoit Bay Preserve, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.2 × 12 cm)

8/17/2020 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 6 × 7" (16 × 18 cm)

9/4/2020 · Widgeon Cove Trail, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 13 cm)

5/30/2010 · Hayes Wood Conservation Trail, Shirley St., Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

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