Names and Myths

Veronica named for St Veronica from Latin vera, true, Greek eicon image.

 officinalis of apothecary shops

Speedwell – tradition of handing ship voyagers a bouquets of blue flowers and wishing them to “Speed well”.⁹

Natural history / Folklore

To small and bitter for use as a food plant it found its way into herbal medicine. It was brewed to treat colds, and as an expectorant and earned the name spit-well. Its herbal usage may be based on the bitter is better school of medicine.⁹

Description

Opposite leaved with tiny often violet colored 4 pettaled flowers, the lowest petal being smaller than the other three.