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White vervain produces numerous 6" long, widely spaced flower spikes, each covered by tiny (1/8" wide) white flowers sparsely distributed along the length of the flower spike. Individual flowers consist of a hairy, tubular green calyx with five lance-like teeth and a curved, tubular corolla that abruptly flares into five short, rounded, brilliant-white lobes ("petals"). The throat of the flower is "bearded" (occluded by white filaments extending to the middle of the opening), hiding four stamens with greenish anthers, a green style, and a two-lobed stigma. The upper (more apical) two lobes of the corolla are slightly smaller than the other three (like prostrate vervain) and the tip of the lowermost lobe of the corolla is notched (like hoary vervain), but you're not likely to confuse white vervain with any other Verbena. The fruit is four oblong nutlets nestled in the remnants of the calyx.

Verbena

Verbena urticifolia

white vervain [Blooms: Jun-Sep]

Wayside speedwell's flowers are 1/4" across with a green, hairy calyx with four triangular lobes as long as the petals, projecting between them in the spaces between petals; a short corolla with four spreading lobes, three the same size (one on either side, blue to bluish-white with dark blue lines, and the third dark blue with blue-violet lines) and one about half as wide, pale blue or white with light blue lines. The blue lines function as nectar guides. The base of all four lobes is bright white, but the center of the flower is greenish. There are two white stamens with white anthers (backed by a dark blue "U" shape) and a single white pistil emerging from the throat of the corolla. The fruits are heart-shaped capsules with two chambers covered with glandular hairs, each containing 8-12 seeds. The flowers and leaves of wayside speedwell are similar to those of bird's-eye speedwell (Veronica persica), but the calyx lobes of bird's-eye speedwell do not project beyond the petals. There are 16 species of the genus Veronica reported from Illinois. I have only seen three (Veronica arvensis, Veronica polita, and Veronica serpyllifolia) in Jackson Park but, given their minute size and inconspicuousness, it seems likely that more remain to be found.

Veronica

Veronica polita

wayside speedwell [Blooms: Apr-Jun]

Thyme-leafed speedwell's upper stems host clusters (racemes) of flowers 2-7" long; flowers may either be opposite or alternate along the stem. Each flower is 1/8-1/4" across with a short (1/4"), slender petiole; at the base of the petiole is an oblong, hairless, leafy bract also about 1/4" long with smooth margins. (Thus, the flowers effectively arise from leaf axils.) Individual flowers consist of a green calyx with four triangular lobes shorter than the petals; a short corolla with four oval petal-like, lobes (the lowest one smaller than the other three); two stamens with purple or white anthers; and a green ovary with a single style. The lobes (petals) are white or pale blue, usually with dark blue lines radiating from the flower's center on the upper three lobes. The fruit is a laterally flattened, heart-shaped capsule 1/4" across with two chambers and a fringe of glandular hairs. When mature, the chambers split open, releasing 50-72 tiny seeds. There are 16 species of the genus Veronica reported from Illinois. I have only seen three (Veronica arvensis, Veronica polita, and Veronica serpyllifolia) in Jackson Park but, given their minute size and inconspicuousness, it seems likely that more remain to be found.

Veronica

Veronica serpyllifolia

thyme-leafed speedwell [Blooms: Apr-?]

Wild pansy's flower stalks are long, hairless, and bend like a shepherd's crook just below the base of the flower so the flower axis is approximately horizontal. Individual flowers have five 7-15 mm long, lance-shaped sepals that are longer than the petals and are sharply pointed at their tips; a 4-12 mm long corolla with five white or pale cream-colored petals, a yellow throat with a few dark purple lines, the lateral petals bearded on their upper surface, and a 1-1.5 mm long spur; two stamens not visible externally; and a single style enlarged into a hollow, globose stigma. The fruit is a spherical or ellipsoidal three-valved capsule, 5-10 mm long containing 6-75, 1.5 mm long, brown seeds.

Viola

Viola arvensis

wild pansy [Blooms: Jun-?]