Species: Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
Family: Plantains (PLANTAGINACEAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Plantains (PLANTAGINACEAE)
Many members have flat leaves that seem to lay on the ground, hence the derivation of the name from the Latin 'planta', sole of the foot. The flowers are on long, leafless stalks. The best known plantain is the banana.
C. Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys)
The bright blue flowers with a white eye appear from April, and are a common sight in grassy places. It is a common native plant. A speedwell infusion is good for coughs, catarrh and skin complaints. Speedwells are called 'thunderbolts', as picking them was thought to bring on thunder. Another name for them is Bird's Eye, because of the belief that if you picked them the birds would peck your eyes out.
Images
Germander Speedwell
Germander Speedwell is called 'Bird's Eye', because of the belief that if you picked them the birds would peck your eyes out.
Germander Speedwell
The bright blue flowers of Germander Speedwell with their white eyes appear from April, a common sight in grassy places.
Germander Speedwell
Germander Speedwell photographed in mid-April 2022.
