Skip to main content

WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

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.

Also D. lutea

4 records 1997 1997 ST620871 Sheepscombe Brake edge, Old Down, South Gloucestershire Lloyd RJ Richard 2889 1998 1998 ST620871 Sheepscombe Brake edge, Old Down, South Gloucestershire Lloyd RJ Richard 2889 1999 1999 ST620871 Sheepscombe Brake edge, Old Down, South Gloucestershire Lloyd RJ Richard 2889 2017 22/05/2017 ST590683 Hengrove Park Higgins J Rupert 45

ERINUS L.

  • Erinus alpinus L. (Fairy Foxglove) General 1st record 29/05/1995 ST5774 Redland Martin P John 249

VERONICA L.

Subgenus VERONICA

  • Veronica officinalis L. (Heath Speedwell) - Grassland 1st record May 1834 ST622724 St Anne's Wood, Brislington Braikenridge Mr G.W. - 7269

  • Veronica montana L. (Wood Speedwell) / Woodland 1st record 1934 ST520733 Lower Failand, Alder Bed Wood, near Failand Court Ashworth - Mary 4266

  • Veronica scutellata L. var. scutellata (Marsh Speedwell) Wetland 1st record 1920 29/05/1920 ST4470 Nailsea Moor, North Somerset Sandwith I Cecil 9526

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, ditch-sides, wet corners of fields, wet woodland, slow-moving streams, bogs and other marshy places.

1st record May 1834 ST622724 St Anne's Wood, Brislington Braikenridge Mr G.W. - 7269

  • Veronica anagallis-aquatica L. (Blue Water-speedwell) - Wetland 1st record 1929 19/06/1929 ST4976 Brackish rhine by the Channel, Portbury Sandwith I Cecil 9526

Also have Veronica anagallis-aquatica x catenata = V. x lackschewitzii 8 records 1985 10/08/1985 ST4771 Nailsea, Jacklands Farm incl. Towerhouse Woods Rooney, Mr P. 1990 1990 ST7078 M4, M5 widening corridor Burrell, Ms P.J.S. 2000 21/08/2000 ST408651 Ditches between Nailsea and St Georges Walls R.M. 2381 2000 22/08/2000 ST450679 Ditches between Nailsea and St Georges Walls R.M. 2381 2006 13/05/2006 ST533819 Chittening Road (ditch), Severnside Quinn Mr. P. Phil 32 2006 31/08/2006 ST411631 Puxton Moor (PM) - station 42 Glazebrook P Polly 3399 2006 31/08/2006 ST415627 Puxton Moor (PM) - station 62 Glazebrook P Polly 3399 2012 25/06/2012 ST42836456 Ditch north of New Rhyne, south of Binhay Rhyne, central transect point O'Higgins - Reyna 6819

and V. austriaca 2 records that are duplicate 2006 07/06/2006 ST697595 Tunley, near Peasedown St John (layby at Tunley Road) Cam Valley Wildlife Group - - 1561

  • Veronica catenata Pennell (Pink water-speedwell) / Wetland 1st record 1929 19/06/1929 ST4877 Brackish rhines by the channel between Portbury and Portishead Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • Veronica peregrina L. (American Speedwell) General 5 records 05/05/1999 ST802664 Ashley Wood Green, Mr I. 01/05/1999 ST801664 Ashley Wood, comments may have more precise location details. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Green Mr R Paul 839 10/09/2003 ST43856449 Cadbury Garden & Leisure Centre, comments may have more precise location details Green Mr P Ian 840 10/09/2003 ST437643 Cadbury Nursery, comments may have more precise location details. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Green Mr P Ian 840 2012 ST783592 Hinton Charterhouse Parkes Mrs Mary 4334

  • Veronica serpyllifolia L. ssp. serpyllifolia (Thyme-leaved Speedwell) / General 1st record 1918 12/05/1918 ST4974 Charlton Woods, Portbury Sandwith I Cecil 9526

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

  • Veronica spicata L. ssp. hybrida (L.) Gaudin (Spiked Speedwell / Western Spiked Speedwell - NBN) /- General

1st record 1930 October 1930 ST565731 St Vincents Rocks Clifton Sandwith I Cecil 9526

Subgenus COCHLIDIOSPERMA (Rchb.) Martínez-Ortega & Albach

  • Veronica hederifolia L. (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) / General 1st record 1915 04/06/1915 ST4975 Field at Portbury, North Somerset Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • ssp. hederifolia Frequent Found in disturbed places such as gardens, allotments, roadsides.

1st record 1984 July Aug 1984 ST3657 Christon Hill Richmond - Don 569

  • ssp. lucorum (Klett & Richt.) Hartl (V. sublobata M.A. Fisch.) (Ivy-leaved Speedwell) / General Common More common found in disturbed as well as natural habitats such as woodland, country lanes, pavements, walls, gardens, allotments and brownfield sites.

1st record 1941 05/05/1941 ST452718 Tickenham Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • Veronica crista-galli Steven (Crested Field-speedwell) General Very Rare 1st record 1936 30/05/1936 ST7966 Hedgebank, Bathford Sandwith I Cecil 9526

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

  • Veronica filiformis Sm. (Slender Speedwell) / Grassland 1st record 1975 pre 1975 ST555731 in gardens, Leigh Woods, Avon Gorge National Nature Reserve Russell R.V. - 412

  • Veronica agrestis L. (Green Field-speedwell) / General Locally frequent on rocky outcrops, pavements, walls, path-sides, spoil heaps.

1st record 1917 18/09/1917 ST499754 Portbury Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • Veronica polita Fr. (Grey Field-speedwell) / General Frequent on walls, pavements, rocky outcrops, open short-cropped grassy places.

1st record 1914 14/03/1914 ST5573 Leigh Woods Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • 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, brownfield sites.

1st record 1972 October 1968-May 1972 ST448746 Seven Acre Wood, Weston in Gordano Avon Wildlife Trust - - 8

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

  • Veronica chamaedrys L. (Germander Speedwell) / General Found in old lawns, churchyards, grassland, open woods.

1st record 1918 06/05/1918 ST4975 On the roadside near Portbury Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • Veronica arvensis L. (Wall Speedwell) / General 1st record 1934 May 1934 ST517731 Lower Failand, Oxhouse Lane, (small wood) Ashworth - Mary 4266

Subgenus PSEUDOVERONICA J.B. Armstr.

  • 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

Also Hebe on its own

Hebe - 1st 13 records are all 2002 Richard Bland, various places around Bristol

We also have Bartsia alpina in Scrophulariaceae (Families haven't been updated either) on the db. Expect it is Red Bartsia but need to change

ANTIRRHINUM L.

  • Antirrhinum majus L. (Snapdragon) / General A frequent garden escape and becoming well-established on walls and other barish open places. Long-established in the Avon Gorge. 1st record 1919 13/06/1919 ST5673 near the Avon. Clifton Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • 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 and newly made ground, railway sidings.

1st record 1912 28/05/1912 ST557748 Railway between Hotwells and Sea Mills Sandwith I Cecil 9526

Also Chaenostoma cordatum - not sure where that fits in; 2 records 17/09/2016 ST59397577 Ashley Down Higgins J Rupert 45 25/09/2016 ST58907275 Welsh Back, Bristol city centre Higgins J Rupert 45

MISOPATES Raf.

  • Misopates orontium (L.) Raf. (Weasel's-snout) General 4 records 04/08/1957 ST5178 Noted as Avonmouth Docks Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery - - 2912 1999 ST677802 Field at Ram Hill, Coalpit Heath Howes I P 3044 2001 ST5676873529 Percival Road, Clifton Bland - Richard 683 2005 ST3970 Poet's Walk, Clevedon Pike Mr. Tony 706

ASARINA Mill.

  • Asarina procumbens Mill. (Trailing Snapdragon) General - 1 record General 1 record 11/08/2004 ST641771 Frenchay, wall Bland Mr. R.L. Richard 683

CYMBALARIA Hill

  • Cymbalaria muralis P. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb. ssp. muralis (Ivy-leaved Toadflax) / General 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.

1st record June 1932 ST517731 Lower Failand, Oxhouse Lane North - S B 4344

Also C. pallida 1 record 2016 30/06/2016 ST73836286 Bath, Bloomfield Drive, comments may have more precise location details Green - Dave 277

KICKXIA Dumort.

  • Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. (Sharp-leaved Fluellen) /- General 1st record 1963 13/10/1963 ST5178 Noted as waste ground, Avonmouth Docks Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery - - 2912

  • Kickxia spuria (L.) Dumort. (Round-leaved Fluellen) - General 1st record 19/07/1984 ST5469 Between Barrow and Yanley, cottage Grenfell, Mr A.L.

LINARIA Mill.

  • Linaria vulgaris Mill. (Common Toadflax) / General Locally common along roadsides, often showing in abundance along motorway highways, railway sidings, species-rich grassland, grass banks.

1 record 1927 18/08/1927 ST701826 Near North Road Station Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • 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 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 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
  • 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 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 chamaedrys L. (Germander 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:

  • 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 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]