Corn speedwell – Veronica arvensis - Plant & Pest Diagnostics

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, short-stalked with rounded teeth along the margins. Small, narrow, bractlike 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 bractlike leaves on elongated flowering stems. Fruit 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.

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.

Plant & Pest Diagnostics