Tiny speedwell kept attracting my attention as I walked the dog this morning, perhaps because it was reflecting so perfectly the colours of the sky.
There are several types of speedwell, all of which have numerous medicinal uses. This is field speedwell, the most common, ‘served as an emergency food, eaten in times of famine’ according to one of my reference books. It flowers throughout the year. The leaves of all speedwells can apparently be dried and made into tea.
According to my Oxford English Dictionary the name 'speedwell' is at least four centuries old (first recorded in 1578) and the result of the plant's 'fugacious' petals - ie petals which drop off easily. I prefer to think of the name as well-wishing.
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