Practical
Plants

Veronica anagallis-aquatica

Water Speedwell

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Self

Uses

Edible uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[9][10]. Rich in vitamin C[5]. A subtle flavour[2], the leaves can be added to salads or used as a potherb[4]. When used in salads they go better with a lemon dressing than vinegar[4]. The leaves are often available in winter.

Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The root and the leaves are alterative, appetizer and diuretic[7][8]. The leaves are used in the treatment of scurvy, impurity of the blood etc[8]. The plant is bruised and applied externally as a poultice on burns, ulcers, whitlows, etc[8].

Product or use
Alterative
Product or use
Antiscorbutic
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Poultice

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to N. Africa, temperate Asia to Japan.
Habitat
Marshes, ditches, wet meadows, ponds and streams, avoiding acid conditions[1][3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow autumn in a cold frame[6]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed it can be grown in situ in the autumn or spring. Division in autumn or spring[6]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring. Cuttings of young shoots root easily in the growing season, merely put them in water.

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moderately fertile wet soil or in shallow water[1][6]. Prefers cool summers[6]. Plants are occasionally cultivated for their edible leaves in Japan[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.

    ↩

  3. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  5. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  7. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩

  8. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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