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Early Weeds - Part 3 - Page 5

© Marge Talt

Speedwell Number One

Lacking a positive ID, I will call this one "Number One". Seen here are seedlings emerging from the gravel. Note the scalloped leaves. I found two species with slightly scalloped leaves, but this shape remains in maturity, while on my pest, the leaves change as the stems elongate.

These are not large plants in any sense of the word.

Here's a scan of a seedling with a penny for scale. One of the really annoying traits of these plants is their diminutive size. They're so tiny you can't get your fingers around them to pull them at seedling size. Of the two I have, this is the larger and easier to remove at this stage.

Here are two plants with a seedling in the center. Both the older plants have started to flower and set seed. Their habit varies from almost single stem to multi-stem - I think where they land has something to do with this. Those finding better growing conditions branch out to form mats.

Here's a close-up of the stem on the plants in the previous scan. Note that the leaf shape has become linear and the seedpods are well on their way.

This scan shows the basal leaf of speedwell no. one, on the left, with the basal leaf of speedwell no. two and a penny for scale. One other interesting, but inconclusive, observation about speedwell no. one is that the scalloped leaves are quite hairy. If anybody actually knows for certain which species this is, please tell me.

Speedwell Two

It is just possible that my number two is Veronica peregrina or neckweed. I won't swear to this on a stack of bibles, but it tallies in many particulars.

This photo shows a nice healthy patch of it growing amongst grass and white clover. Most of mine shows up in the gravel of the drive.

This close-up of the flower is a tad fuzzy, but shows the form well. The flowers are minute, probably about an eighth of an inch (3 mm) long, at most. In quantity, they are almost cute, but not cute enough to encourage.

Here is a scan of three different sized plants with that same penny for scale. To the immediate left of the penny is a maturing seedling; in the center are two slightly older plants and on the right a mature specimen.

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