Veronica hederifolia ssp lucorum Ivy-leaved Speedwell C DD N
This is a very common annual which can flower as early as February but which is usually in full flower by March. It tends to grow on paths or where there isn't so much tall vegetation as it rarely reaches more than a few centimetres tall. The flowers are very small sometimes less than 2 mm across. There are two sub species and the pale anthers show that this is ssp lucorum. The anthers on ssp hederifolia are distinctly blue but those on ssp lucorum are white or confusingly pale blue.
This is a very common plant in the south of the British Isles in other words throughout England and Wales but the distribution thins appreciably by the Scottish border and it isn't common in northern Scotland. In Ireland it is most often found in the south.
Roadside Cheshire, 28th March 2005
Added on Mar 30th 2005, updated on Apr 23rd 2006, Feb 5th 2007, updated 21st Feb 2012, updated 18th Nov 2014