How “Germander Speedwell” got it’s name

Gerrymander Speedwell by Peter Hassett, Pilch Field, 8 May 2011

Gerrymander Speedwell by Peter Hassett, Pilch Field, 8 May 2011

On the Society’s trip to Fenny Lock on 31 May 2016, members of the Society wondered where “Germander Speedwell” (Veronica chamaedrys) got it’s name. Corinna, with some help from Google, has found the answer:

Speedwell, Germander, is the commonest British species of Speedwell, found everywhere, on banks, pastures, in copses, etc., flowering in spring and early summer.
The name Germander is a corruption of the Latin chamaedrys. Gerard commenting on the name says: ‘The Germander from the form of the leaves like unto small oak leaves, has the name chamaedrys given it, which signifieth a dwarf oak’ – though the likeness is not very pronounced.

Click here for more information.