60.) VERONICACEAE - Speedwell family - Pages

60.) VERONICACEAE - Speedwell family

VERONICACEAE - Speedwell family

DIGITALIS L.

Digitalis purpurea L. (Foxglove) / Woodland Locally common in open woodland, scrub, heathy grassland and hedgebanks on acidic soils. Also commonly grown in gardens and escapes onto nearby ground such as pavements. The garden plant is different to the native plant, it being more hairy, the leaves broader and the flowers fatter. When viewed en masse there are few sites as dazzling as the sea of electric purple, carpeting the barren ground of a forestry plantation.
Digitalis lutea L. (ssp. lutea) (Straw Foxglove) General Very Rare A very rare introduction. Recorded at Sheepscombe Brake, Old Down, South Gloucestershire in 1997-1999 by R.R.J. Lloyd; at Hengrove Park, south Bristol in 2017 by R.J. Higgins; and at ST57L in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

ERINUS L.

Erinus alpinus L. (Fairy Foxglove) General Very Rare "An ornamental rockery-plant occasionally naturalised on old walls and, as a rule, persistent where it gets a hold...A native of mountain ranges in Central and Southern Europe...Formerly plentiful on walls at Moorend, north of Hambrook; but Mr. C. Alden tells me that little of it now remains. Old wall at Wyck; E. H. Reed. Plentiful along the top of a high wall in Henbury village, for a hundred yards or so" (White, 1912); found at Redland in 1995 by J.P. Martin; found naturalised on a stone wall in the village of Easton-in-Gordano in 1999 by I.P. Green [seen here again in 2007 by ?]; at ST46 in 1990s by ? [BSBI record]; Bedminster, Bristol in 2003 by ?; Stoke Bishop in 2007 by ?; Frenchay in 2007 by ?; Uphill in 2013 by ?; at ST56P in 2010s by ?; at ST57S in 2010s by ?; at ST68L in 2010s by ? [BSBI records]; Lawrence Weston, Bristol in 2019 by ?; at ST45N in 2020s by ?; and at ST76Y in 2020s by ? [BSBI records].

[Maybe don't need to mention all records.]

VERONICA L.

Subgenus VERONICA

Veronica officinalis L. (Heath Speedwell) - Grassland Uncommon Locally common in well-drained species-rich grassland, heathy pastures, commons and dry banks. It has a particular liking for growing on anthills. First recorded locally at St Anne's Wood, Brislington in 1834 by Bristol Antiquarian G.W. Braikenridge.
Veronica montana L. (Wood Speedwell) / Woodland Frequent Frequent in damp shady spots in woodland, scrub, old hedgebanks and shaded road verges. First recorded locally by Swayne in Withering (1796).
Veronica scutellata L. var. scutellata (Marsh Speedwell) Wetland Very Rare A very rare plant of marshy places. Out of seventeen previously recorded localities, only recently recorded on the North Somerset Levels and Moors at Congresbury in 2001 by ? and Clapton Moor in 2012 by ?. Though always rare, this species has suffered catastrophic decline, likely as a result of habitat degredation and mismanagement. Should its previous stations be carefully restored it may return.

Subgenus BECCABUNGA (Hill) Martínez-Ortega, Albach & M.A. Fisch.

Veronica beccabunga L. (Brooklime) / Wetland Frequent Frequent in the shallows and on the banks of ponds, ditches, slow-moving streams, wet corners of fields, wet woodland, bogs and other marshy places. First record locally at St Anne's Wood, Brislington in 1834 by Bristol Antiquarian G.W. Braikenridge.
Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. (Blue Water-speedwell) - Wetland Uncommon Uncommon but widely distributed along rhynes, rivers and in ponds and marshy fields.

[I wonder if some records may be mistakes for Brooklime on account of its common name?]

Veronica anagallis-aquatica x V. catenata = V. x *lackschewitzii J.B. Keller (Hybrid Water-speedwell) Wetland Very Rare Rare but possibly overlooked, found where the two parents meet. Recorded at ST66 in 1980s by ? [BSBI record]; at Jacklands Farm, Nailsea in 1985 by P. Rooney; along the M4, M5 widening corridor in 1990 by P.J.S. Burrell; in ditches between Nailsea and St Georges in 2000 by R.M. Walls; in a ditch on Chittening Road, Severnside in 2006 by P. Quinn; at Puxton Moor in 2006 by P.P. Glazebrook; and in a ditch north of New Rhyne, south of Binhay Rhyne, Congresbury in 2012 by R. O'Higgins. The V. catenata parent was not yet recognised at the time but a plant mentioned in White (1912) under V. anagallis var. anagalliformis* from "Ditches by Lover's Lane in Hallen Marsh, 1910...Miss Roper" may haver referred to this.
Veronica catenata Pennell (Pink water-speedwell) / Wetland Uncommon Locally frequent along rhynes and in ponds with a strong western bias and predominantly found along the coastal strip, on the north Somerset Levels and Moors, around Blagdon and Chew Valley Lakes, and the area east of Yate. This species was historically not separated from V. anagallis-aquatica and was first recorded locally in Brackish rhines by the channel between Portbury and Portishead in 1929 by C.I. Sandwith.
Veronica peregrina L. (American Speedwell) General Very Rare A very rare introduction; first found established on a stony track at Ashley Wood, Bathford in 1999 by I.P. Green; at ST57 in 1990s by? [BSBI record]; at Cadbury Garden Centre, Congresbury in 2003 by I.P. Green; and at Hinton Charterhouse in 2012 by M. Parkes.

[I'm sure Rob Randall found it recently in the Bath area.]

Veronica serpyllifolia L. ssp. serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved Speedwell) / General Frequent Frequent in short open grassy places, road verges, woodland rides, churchyards, old lawns, and sometimes on wall tops and pavements.

Subgenus PSEUDOLYSIMACHIUM (W.D.J. Koch) Buchenau

Veronica spicata L. (V. spicata ssp. hybrida (L.) Gaudin) (ssp. spicata) Gaudin (Spiked Speedwell / Western Spiked Speedwell) /- General Very Rare Restricted as a native to limestone rocks on both sides of the Avon Gorge where it was first discovered in 1638 at "Saint Vincente Rocke by Master Goodyer" (Johnson, 1641). And was found for the first time on the North Somerset side in 1910 by I.W. Evans but was not mentioned in White (1912) who states it as absent from Somerset. It was introduced to Goblin Combe in 1955 as part of an experiment by the University of Bristol along with other Avon Gorge rarities and is the only one to have persisted [?]. It has also been introduced to several other sites but none have persisted. Traditionally our plant has been placed under ssp. hybrida, it being taller than the nominate plant from eastern England "and having larger, more extensively crenate-serrate leaves that are widest below (not at) the middle and are more abruptly narrowed into the petiole" (Stace, 2019) but differences are not consistent and internationally British plants have all been lumped under ssp. spicata. According to White (1912) it rarely has white flowers. Though largely inaccessible, specks of its distinct blue hue brightening up the grey rock face, can just about be made out from a distance with the naked eye from June to August. It can also be viewed in safety at the Avon Gorge rare plants display on the Clifton side of the suspension bridge.

"Although there appears to be no character of importance to separate V. hybrida from V. spicata, it is considered that our plants and those of the Welsh coast belong to the former, which is the larger and handsomer. There is a great difference in the stature of the two plants. The inland spicata of heathy ground at Newmarket, etc., is a slender little thing from 4 to 6 inches, and not much bigger in cultivation; while our Clifton hybrida ranges from 12 to 18 inches and attains even two feet in a garden. I have not gathered spicata in England, but have noted in Dauphiny and Tyrol that the spike is more cylindrical, the hue paler, and the individual flowers little more than half the size of those with our hybrida. Many local botanists of a past generation were of the opinion that both forms were to be found on the Rocks at Clifton; and they stand separately in Swete's Fl. Bristol." (White, 1912).

Subgenus COCHLIDIOSPERMA (Rchb.) Martínez-Ortega & Albach

Veronica hederifolia L. (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) / General Common Common and widespread in both natural and urban settings such as cultivated and disturbed places, gardens, parks, allotments, walls, pavements, road verges, hedgebanks and woodland. Both subspecies can sometimes be found growing in close proximity.
ssp. hederifolia General Frequent The nominate though less frequent plant with apical leaf-lobes being wider than long, having shorter pedicels (about 2 - 4 x as long as the calyx) and with slightly larger more bluish flowers. Found in disturbed and cultivated places such as gardens, allotments and roadsides.
ssp. lucorum (Klett & Richt.) Hartl (V. sublobata M.A. Fisch.) (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) / General Common The more common plant with apical leaf-lobes being longer than wide, having longer pedicels (about 3.5 - 7 x as long as the calyx) and smaller more pale lilac flowers. Found in both disturbed and more natural habitats such as woodland, country lanes, pavements, walls, gardens, allotments and brownfield sites.
Veronica crista-galli Steven (Crested Field-speedwell) General Very Rare An established introduction in the Bath area where it grows on road verges, hedgebanks and disturbed ground, especially around Bathford, Batheaston and in Prior Park. First recorded from Batheaston in 1926 by L.V. Lester-Garland.

Subgenus POCILLA (Dumort.) Martínez-Ortega, Albach & M.A. Fisch.

Veronica filiformis Sm. (Slender Speedwell) / Grassland Frequent A widespread introduction; particularly in lawns and churchyards where it gets spread about by close mowing and the fragments re-rooting. Also found on road verges and on the banks of rivers and streams.
Veronica agrestis L. (Green Field-speedwell) / General Uncommon Scattered and locally frequent on pavements, walls, path-sides, spoil heaps and cultivated ground.
Veronica polita Fr. (Grey Field-speedwell) / General Frequent Frequent on walls, pavements, rocky outcrops and open short-cropped grassy places.
Veronica persica Poir. (Common Field-speedwell) / General Very Common Very common in a wide range of disturbed and semi-natural places such as gardens, parks, allotments, road verges, fields, pavements, walls and brownfield sites. A native of south-western Asia. This species was first recorded from our region as a "naturalised, having been cultivated in a garden" by Babington (1834 [as V. filiformis]).

Subgenus PENTASEPALAE (Benth.) Martínez-Ortega, Albach & M.A. Fisch.

Veronica teucrium L. (Large Speedwell) - [on DB as V. austriaca] General Very Rare Recorded in a layby on Tunley Road, Tunley, near Peasedown St John in 2006 by Cam Valley Wildlife Group.

Subgenus CHAMAEDRYS (W.D.J. Koch) Martínez-Ortega, Albach & M.A. Fisch.

Veronica chamaedrys L. (Germander Speedwell) / General Common Found in old lawns, churchyards, grassland, open woods and hedgebanks. Otherwise sometimes known as Bird's-eye. The conspicuous gall caused by the midge Jaapiella veronicae is often found effecting the shooting tip.
Veronica peduncularis M. Bieb. (Creeping Speedwell) General Very Rare The cultivar 'Georgia Blue' was recorded as a planted relic at Portland Square, St Paul's, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters.
Veronica arvensis L. (Wall Speedwell) / General Common Common in short dry grassy and disturbed bare places such as rocky outcrops, pavements, wall tops, anthills, road verges, gardens, allotments, dry banks and barren path-sides.

Subgenus PSEUDOVERONICA J.B. Armstr.

Veronica salicifolia G. Forst. (Narrow-leaved Hebe) General Very Rare Widely planted in gardens and shrubberies and persists as a planted relic. Found at Radstock, North Somerset in 2020s by ? [BSBI record]; at Westbury Wildlife Park, Westbury-on-Trym in 2022 by D. Peters; and young plants were found self-seeded on a stone wall below its garden source on Cotham Brow, Bristol in 2023 also by D. Peters.
Veronica salicifolia x V. elliptica = V. x *lewisii* J.B. Armstr. (Lewis's Hebe) General Very Rare A young self-seeded plant was found at the base of a wall on Cotham Brow, Bristol in 2024 by D. Peters.
Veronica elliptica x V. speciosa = V. x *franciscana* (Hedge Hebe) General Very Rare Widely grown in gardens and sometimes self-seeds, mostly as the cultivar 'Blue Gem'. Found at Weston-super-Mare in 2020s by ? [BSBI records] and on two occasions around Bristol in 2025 by D. Peters: at the base of a wall on Howard Road, Henleaze and in a gateway entrance on Radnor Road, Bishopston.
Veronica topiaria (L.B. Moore) Garn.-Jones (Topiarist's Hebe) General Very Rare Found as a planted relic at St Mary's Churchyard, Henbury, Bristol in 2022 by D. Peters. It has since disappeared.
Veronica parviflora (Small-flowered Hebe) General Very Rare Found on several occasions around Bristol by D. Peters: young plant at the base of a wall on Effingham Road, St Andrew's in 2022; a plant growing out of a brick wall opposite its garden source on Ash Road, Bishopston in 2023 (soon disappeared); and seedlings growing out of a wall next to the same garden source in 2025. In all cases as the cultivar 'Palmerston'.

[Perhaps also map Hebe on its own as there are 13 records.]

ANTIRRHINUM L.

Antirrhinum majus L. (Snapdragon) / General Uncommon A frequent garden escape and becoming well-established on walls and other barish open places, coming in a plethora of colour forms. Long-established in the Avon Gorge where the wilder less ornamental plant occurs.
Antirrhinum molle L. (Dwarf Snapdragon) - in stonework in St James Square, Bath (Nature in Avon, 2025, p. 202) - BRLSI General Very Rare Found growing in stonework in St James Square, Bath in 2022 by R.D. Randall where it had escaped from a nearby hanging basket.

CHAENORHINUM (DC.) Rchb.

Chaenorhinum minus (L.) Lange (Small Toadflax) / General Uncommon A much declined plant of arable fields, allotments, newly made ground and railway sidings.

MISOPATES Raf.

Misopates orontium (L.) Raf. (Weasel's-snout) General Very Rare A very rare casual. Recorded at Avonmouth Docks in 1957 by ? [BMAG]; at Portishead Docks in 1988 by A.L. Grenfell; a single plant amongst a row of carrots in a garden in Compton Martin in 1988 by A.P. Pockson; in a field at Ram Hill, Coalpit Heath in 1999 by I.P. Howes; on Percival Road, Clifton in 2001 by R.L. Bland; and on Poet's Walk, Clevedon in 2005 by T. Pike.

ASARINA Mill.

Asarina procumbens Mill. (Trailing Snapdragon) General Very Rare Recorded on a wall at Frenchay in 2004 by R.L. Bland.

CYMBALARIA Hill

Cymbalaria muralis P. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb. ssp. muralis (Ivy-leaved Toadflax) / General Very Common A conspicuous plant of walls particularly those of limestone, though sometimes found on the ground in gravelly or stony places. Occasionally white forms occur. A quite unusual record was made of a plant growing in a woodland track at Goblin Coombe in 2024 by D. Peters. Noted amongst plants for planting itself into crevices via long trailing runners.
Cymbalaria pallida (Ten.) Wettst. (Italian Toadflax) General Very Rare Recorded on Bloomfield Drive, Bath in 2016 by D. Green and again in 2020s by [BSBI record].

KICKXIA Dumort.

Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. (Sharp-leaved Fluellen) /- General Rare Scattered over the region in cultivated and disturbed places; predominantly on calcareous soils. It has declined.
Kickxia spuria (L.) Dumort. (Round-leaved Fluellen) - General Rare Growing as for Sharp-leaved Fluellen and often with it but slightly rarer.

LINARIA Mill.

Linaria vulgaris Mill. (Common Toadflax) / General Locally common along roadsides, often showing in abundance along motorway highways, railway sidings, species-rich grassland and grassy banks.
Linaria vulgaris x L. repens = L. x *sepium* G.J. Allman (Common x Pale Toadflax) 1969 General Rare Found wherever the two parents meet. Thinly scattered over the region.

5 records 1956 12/08/1956 ST533826 Railway Embankment, Chittening Warth Sandwith I Cecil 9526 1956 12/08/1956 ST521807 on railway bank by the station in Hallen Marsh Avonmouth Sandwith I Cecil 9526

a flowering plant 1988 Nov 1987 - Sept 1988 ST541846 Severn Beach Higgins, Mr R., Lawrence, Ms D.

28/08/1989 ST5279 Avonmouth, approximate central parish or ward grid reference used Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery - - 2912

2008 15/07/2008 ST540847 Severn Beach railway station Martin P John 249

Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill. (Purple Toadflax) / General Frequent A common introduction; thoroughly established on pavements, walls, roadsides and in old quarries.

1st record 1931 09/08/1931 ST5277 Shirehampton and Avonmouth Sandwith I Cecil 9526

Linaria purpurea x L. repens = L. x *dominii* Druce (Purple x Pale Toadflax) General Very Rare 4 records 1988 March 1988 ST529803 Avonmouth Rockingham Works, etc. Higgins, Mr R., Lawrence, Ms D. 1999 1999 ST623797 Bristol Parkway Station Higgins, Mr R. 2006 26/08/2006 ST521798 Avonmouth, near old tip adjacent to STW Martin P John 249 2009 28/07/2009 ST540847 Severn Beach Martin P John 249
Linaria repens (L.) Mill. (Pale Toadflax) - General Scarce Found along railway sidings, roadsides and species-rich grassland.

1 record 01/09/1928 ST5178 Noted as railway line, Avonmouth Docks Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery - - 2912

Linaria supina (L.) Chaz. (Prostrate Toadflax) General Extinct 7 records 1986 16/08/1986 ST535785 Lawrence Weston Woodman, Mrs J. 1992 March 1992 ST519800 Holes Mouth Junction fuel storage depot, Avonmouth Landmark Environmental Consultants - - 196 1993 1993 ST522807 Near St Andrews Road Station Higgins, Mr R. 1993 July 1993 ST521807 Holes Mouth Junction fuel storage depot, Avonmouth Higgins Mr. R. Rupert 45 1994 27/08/1994 ST521807 Hallen Marsh Junction, comments may contain more location details, place may refer to name of 1km ref. Kitchen or Kitchen and others - Mark and or Clare 9922 1998 11/05/1998 ST522806 Avonmouth Railway Sidings, Hallen Marsh Junction Evans, Mr M., Wood, Ms M.B., Corlett, Miss R.N. 1999 03/06/1999 ST527815 Avonmouth Railway siding - Avonmouth Docks to Bristol Boundary Wood, Ms M.B., Smith, Mr A.G.
Linaria maroccana Hook. f. (Annual Toadflax) / General Very Rare A sporadic garden escape.

5 records 1985 1985 ST617655 Newbarn Farm, etc. Janes, Mr R. 1992 17/10/1992 ST478693 Nailsea and Backwell Station car park Rooney, Mr P. 2016 17/07/2016 ST5370 Long Ashton, comments may have more precise location details. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Somerset Rare Plants Group - - 3687 2016 12/09/2016 ST753658 Bath, London Road, comments may have more precise location details. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Randall D Rob 55 2023 07/05/2023 ST781674 Batheaston Young - Alan John 14138

Facebook record from spoil at Bath City Farm, 2025, Christopher Sutton

Also L alpina 1record 2002 2002 ST5672 Ashton Court Estate Bland Mr.L. Richard 683

, L. dalmatica 1 record 05/08/1933 ST5178 Noted as Avonmouth Docks Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery - - 2912

List:

Digitalis purpurea L. (Foxglove) / Woodland
Digitalis lutea L. (ssp. lutea) (Straw Foxglove) General
Erinus alpinus L. (Fairy Foxglove) General
Veronica officinalis L. (Heath Speedwell) - Grassland
Veronica montana L. (Wood Speedwell) / Woodland
Veronica scutellata L. (var. scutellata - Stace, NBN) (Marsh Speedwell) Wetland
Veronica beccabunga L. (Brooklime) / Wetland
Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. (Blue Water-speedwell) - Wetland
Veronica anagallis-aquatica x V. catenata = V. x lackschewitzii J.B. Keller (Hybrid Water-speedwell) Wetland
Veronica catenata Pennell (Pink water-speedwell) / Wetland
Veronica peregrina L. (American Speedwell) General
Veronica serpyllifolia L. ssp. serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved Speedwell) / General
Veronica spicata L. ssp. hybrida (L.) Gaudin (Spiked Speedwell / Western Spiked Speedwell - NBN) /- General
Veronica hederifolia L. ssp. hederifolia (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) / General
Veronica hederifolia L. ssp. lucorum (Klett & Richt.) Hartl (V. sublobata M.A. Fisch. - Kew, GBIF) (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) / General
Veronica crista-galli Steven (Crested Field-speedwell) General
Veronica filiformis Sm. (Slender Speedwell) / Grassland
Veronica agrestis L. (Green Field-speedwell) / General
Veronica polita Fr. (Grey Field-speedwell) / General
Veronica persica Poir. (Common Field-speedwell) / General
Veronica teucrium L. (Large Speedwell) - [on DB as V. austriaca] General
Veronica chamaedrys L. (Germander Speedwell) / General
Veronica peduncularis M. Bieb. (Creeping Speedwell) General
Veronica arvensis L. (Wall Speedwell) / General
Veronica salicifolia G. Forst. (Narrow-leaved Hebe) General
Veronica salicifolia x V. elliptica = V. x lewisii J.B. Armstr. (Lewis's Hebe) General
Veronica elliptica x V. speciosa = V. x franciscana (Hedge Hebe) General
Veronica topiaria (L.B. Moore) Garn.-Jones (Topiarist's Hebe) General
Veronica parviflora (Small-flowered Hebe) General
Antirrhinum majus L. (Snapdragon) / General
Antirrhinum molle L. (Dwarf Snapdragon) - in stonework in St James Square, Bath (Nature in Avon, 2025, p. 202) - BRLSI General
Chaenorhinum minus (L.) Lange (Small Toadflax) / General
Misopates orontium (L.) Raf. (Weasel's-snout) General
Asarina procumbens Mill. (Trailing Snapdragon) General - 1 record General
Cymbalaria muralis P. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb. ssp. muralis (Ivy-leaved Toadflax) / General
Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. (Sharp-leaved Fluellen) /- General
Kickxia spuria (L.) Dumort. (Round-leaved Fluellen) - General
Linaria vulgaris Mill. (Common Toadflax) / General
Linaria vulgaris x L. repens = L. x sepium G.J. Allman (Stace, NBN) (Common x Pale Toadflax) 1969 General
Linaria purpurea (L.) Mill. (Purple Toadflax) / General
Linaria purpurea x L. repens = L. x dominii Druce (Purple x Pale Toadflax) General
Linaria repens (L.) Mill. (Pale Toadflax) - General
Linaria supina (L.) Chaz. (Prostrate Toadflax) General
Linaria maroccana Hook. f. (Annual Toadflax) / General

Species to add:

Digitalis lutea L. (ssp. lutea) (Straw Foxglove) /
Veronica anagallis-aquatica x V. catenata = V. x lackschewitzii J.B. Keller (Hybrid Water-speedwell) /
Veronica teucrium L. (Large Speedwell) - [on DB as V. austriaca] /
Veronica salicifolia G. Forst. (Narrow-leaved Hebe) /
Veronica elliptica x V. speciosa = V. x franciscana (Hedge Hebe) /
Antirrhinum molle L. (Dwarf Snapdragon) - in stonework in St James Square, Bath (Nature in Avon, 2025, p. 202) - BRLSI /
Asarina procumbens Mill. (Trailing Snapdragon) General - 1 record /

Plants added by me:

Veronica peduncularis M. Bieb. (Creeping Speedwell) /
Veronica salicifolia x V. elliptica = V. x lewisii J.B. Armstr. (Lewis's Hebe) /
Veronica topiaria (L.B. Moore) Garn.-Jones (Topiarist's Hebe) /
Veronica parviflora (Small-flowered Hebe) /

Linaria repens record on railway ballast at Temple Meads in 2024 by R.J. Higgins - [Nature in Avon 2025, p. 194]