Speedwell, Germander

Information on Germander Speedwell

Common Name: Germander Speedwell
Scientific Name: Veronica chamaedrys
Irish Name: Lus crĂ© talĂșn
Family Group: Plantaginaceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month
Germander Speedwell could sometimes be confused with:

Speedwell, Wood,

This is a truly delightful little wildflower which is abundant throughout the country in hedgerows, pastures and open woodland.  A fairly low-growing hairy plant (20cm at most) it is the bright blue flowers (10-12mm across) which first attract attention. The flowers are 4-lobed with the smallest lobe being lowest, have white centres, have two stamens and are borne on slender stalks in loose racemes.  These stems have two opposite lines of hairs.  The leaves are pointed, oval, toothed and opposite and the flower stems emerge from the axils of these leaves. This is a native plant which blooms from May to July and it belongs to the family Plantaganiceae

.  

My earliest record of this wildflower is 1976 at Vartry Reservoir, Co Wicklow and I photographed it in Ballitore, Co Kildare in 2006.  

If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre

In the 17th century, one of the two smaller sailing ships which set sail with the Mayflower carrying the Pilgrim fathers, was named the Speedwell.  Twice the ships set sail for North America but each time returned shortly to England as the Speedwell was found to be leaking.  It later transpired that sabotage had been visited on the ship by the crew who didn't want to be away from home for such a long time.   

Speedwell, Germander
Speedwell, Germander
Speedwell, Germander