Weed Information: Veronica filiformis (speedwell, slender)
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Veronica filiformis (speedwell, slender)

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Description

Also known as creeping speedwell. Rhizomatous perennials; the lower leaves opposite, the upper alternate with the small bluish-white flowers solitary on long stems from the upper leaf axils.

Characteristics

Flower Color
  • Blue
  • White
  • Multi-colored
Inflorescence Type (How the flowers are arranged on the plant)
  • Solitary, axillary
Number of Petals
  • 4 petals
  • 5 petals
Petal Separation
  • United from 25% - 75% length
Petal Tip
  • Rounded
Flower Symmetry
  • Flowers slightly irregular
Flower Length (Head length in the Asteraceae)
  • 2 mm (.08 inch)
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
Flower Width (Head width in the Asteraceae)
  • 7 mm (.28 inch)
  • 8 mm (.32 inch)
  • 9 mm (.36 inch)
Number of Sepals
  • 4 sepals
Sepal Separation
  • Completely free to base
  • United at base < 25% length
Sepal Tip
  • Pointed
  • Rounded
Flower Sex
  • Bisexual (perfect)
Number of Styles
  • 1 style
Number of Stamens
  • 2 stamens
Stamens Attached to the Petals
  • Stamens attached to the petals
Stamens Connate (united)
  • Filaments or anthers NOT united

Carpel Separation
  • Carpels united (or one)
Number of Carpels
  • 2 carpels
Ovary Position
  • Superior (hypogynous)
Fruit Type
  • Capsule, 2-celled
Fruit Length at Maturity
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
Fruit Width at Maturity
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
Burs
  • Fruit or seed NOT bur-like

Leaf Arrangement
  • Alternate
  • Opposite
  • Opposite below, alternate above
Leaf Type
  • Simple (including lobed leaves)
Stipules
  • Lacking
Tendrils
  • Tendrils absent
Venation
  • Palmate
Petiole (leaf stem) Blade Ratio
  • Petiole < 25% total length
  • Petiole 25% - 75% total length
Leaf Length (blade PLUS petiole)
  • 5 - 10 mm (.20 - .40 inch)
Leaf Width
  • 5 - 10 mm (.20 - .40 inch)
Leaf Shape (simple leaves only)
  • Cordate (heart)
  • Ovate
  • Reniform (kidney)
Leaf or Leaflet Margin
  • Dentate
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Base
  • Cordate
  • Rounded
Leaf or Leaflet Tip
  • Acute
  • Rounded (obtuse)
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Surface
  • Glabrous (NO hairs)
  • Pubescent
Succulence
  • Not succulent

Milky Juice
  • Juice NOT milky (watery)
Woodiness
  • Herbaceous
Spines or Thorns
  • Spines or Thorns ABSENT
Aromatic (vegetative structures)
  • Not aromatic
Life Cycle
  • Perennial
Growth Habit (while flowering)
  • Prostrate
  • Spreading ascending
  • Erect, columnar (narrow)
Plant Height at Maturity
  • 1 - 5 cm (.40 - 2.0 inches)
  • 5 - 10 cm (2.0 - 4.0 inches)
Wind Dissemination
  • Not wind disseminated
Moisture Regime
  • Mesic
Chlorophyll
  • Present

Stem Cross Section
  • Round
Flowering Stem Leaves
  • Stem uniformly leafy
Main Stem Branches
  • Main stem unbranched
  • Main stem branched

Root or Vegetative Propagule
  • Rhizomatous

US State
  • Connecticut
  • Michigan
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
  • Maryland
  • Vermont
  • California
  • Idaho
  • Oregon
  • Washington
Canadian Province or Territory
  • British Columbia
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
Other
  • District of Columbia

  • Gilkey`s Weeds of the Pacific Northwest, 1980 (ISBN 0-88246-039-0) See page: 254
  • Ontario Weeds, 1992 Agdex 640, Publication #505 See page: 197
  • Weeds, 1955 (1980) Walter Conrad Muenscher, ISBN# 0-8014-1266-8 See page: 355, 400
  • Weeds of California and other Western States, 2007 (ISBN 13: 978-1-879906-69-3) See Page: 1492
  • Weeds of the Northeast, 1997 Cornell University ISBN# 0-8014-8334-4 See page: 246, 310
  • Listed as a `Weed` by the Biota of North America Program, 2008 x
  • Listed in the WSSA Composite List of Weeds X
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