Corn speedwell – Veronica arvensis - Plant & Pest Diagnostics

The photo shows corn speedwell growing in the lawn.

Corn speedwell – Veronica arvensis

Veronica arvensis L.

Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Prostrate, spreading winter annual.

Leaves

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

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. Fruits are hairy, roundly heart-shaped capsules that contain many tiny, yellowish seeds.

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.

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.

The photo is of a corn speedwell flower. The flowers are pale blue to white. — Corn speedwell flower

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Plant & Pest Diagnostics