Ivy-leaved Speedwell - Veronica hederifolia
Family - Scrophulariaceae
Also known as Corn Speedwell, Ivy Chickweed, Winter-weed

This is a very common annual weed in gardens, hedgerows, arable land and wasteland. A native annual, common in cultivated ground throughout the UK. The flowers which are solitary in the leaf axils are are about 2-3mm (0.08-1.2in) across with four dark striped pale white - blue petals and four shorter green sepals and can be seen from March to June possibly through to August. The flowers mature to a glabrous seed capsule containing 2 seeds and like other Speedwells they have an oily part which attracts ants to spread the seed. Stems are limp and hairy whilst the opposite palmately veined leaves are ivy-shaped, thick and hairy.

Two sub-species occur, V. hederifolia lucorum with smaller lilac flowers usually found in gardens and shady places and, V. hederifolia hederifolia with larger blue flowers found in cultivated fields and roadsides. A weed of arable crops, in winter wheat Ivy-leaved Speedwell thrives with early applications of nitrogen fertilizer, germinating primarily in autumn-winter. They grow to between 10-40 cm (4-16in) in height.

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