Corn Speedwell

Figwort or Snapdragon family (Scrophulariaceae family):

Veronica arvensis L.

EPPO code:

VERAR

Other names:

Common speedwell, speedwell

Species information

Lifecycle:

Winter annual, annual.

Propagation:

Reproduces only by seed.

Emergence:

Seed germinates in the fall and in early spring.

Habitat:

Corn speedwell is most commonly found in fall/winter cereals and turf grass. It is rarely found in spring-planted field crops because primary tillage or pre-plant burn down removes young seedlings.

Competitiveness:

Corn speedwell is not considered a strong competitor and does not interfere with harvesting because it grows low to the ground and is often done flowering and producing seed by early summer.

Identification clues

Seedling

Cotyledons:

Oblong to ovate with a rounded tip.

First leaves:

Corn speedwell’s first leaves are opposite, roundish to egg shaped, hairy on both surfaces. The leaves also have margins with rounded teeth.

Mature leaves:

The mature upper leaves are oriented alternately on the stem. They are oblong in shape (reminiscent of mouse-eared chickweed) and have entire margins.

Mature plant

Stems:

Corn speedwell’s steam is erect or spreading from the base and hairy.

Flowers:

Generally, corn speedwell flowers in the spring to early summer and then again in the fall. Each plant has numerous small, light blue/purple to white, four-petalled flowers on short stalks. Seed pods are heart shaped and hairy.

Seeds:

Each heart-shaped seed pod contains about 20 yellowish/orange seeds that are roughly 0.7 mm in size.

Roots:

Corn speedwell has a fibrous, shallow root system.

Often mistaken for

I know it's not Bird’s-eye speedwell because the flowers of corn speedwell grow on short stalks, whereas the flowers of bird’s-eye speedwell grow on very long stalks.

I know it's not Common speedwell because the leaves below corn speedwell’s flowers are alternate, whereas the leaves of common speedwell are opposite.

I know it's not Purslane speedwell because the leaves and stems of corn speedwell are hairy, while the leaves of purslane speedwell are smooth. Purslane speedwell has exclusively white flowers.