Ontario Weeds: Corn speedwell
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Excerpt from Publication 505, Ontario Weeds,
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Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Flowers and Fruit
- Stems and Roots
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Related Links
Other Names: véronique des champs, Veronica
Family: Figwort or Snapdragon Family (Scrophulariaceae)
General Description: Annual or possibly winter annual, reproducing only by seed. Photos and Pictures
Corn speedwell, in a lawn.

Corn speedwell. A. Plant. B. Seedpod.
Stems & Roots: Stems erect, or
spreading from the base and becoming erect, 5-30cm (2-12in.) long,
somewhat hairy; lower and middle leaves opposite (2 per node), lowermost
pairs with short stalks but the middle ones stalkless, ovate or
elliptic, palmately veined (with 3 or more veins fanning out from
the base), hairy on both surfaces; margins with slightly rounded
teeth; upper leaves alternate (1 per node), smaller, narrower, without
teeth, each with a flower in its axil.
Flowers & Fruit: Flowers on very
short stalks; sepals 4, small; corolla blue-violet, flat, 2-2.5mm
(1/12-1/10in.) wide with 4 lobes and 2 tiny stamens: seedpods roundly
heart-shaped, with a deep notch at the top. Flowers in late May
and June and again in autumn.
Habitat: Corn speedwell occurs in
southern Ontario in pastures, waste places, roadsides, lawns and
cultivated fields.
Similar Species: It is distinguished by
its annual or winter annual habit, its somewhat rounded, toothed
leaves, its tiny blue-violet flowers and its almost stalkless, rounded,
heart-shaped seedpods.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA
Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA
Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
For more information:
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E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca