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Synonyms: Eye of
Christ, Angels' Eyes, Cat's Eye, Paul's Betony, Farewell.
Flowers: March -
July.
Germander Speedwell
is the most common representative of the Speedwell genus in
Britain. This is a perennial with a creeping, branched rootstock
and it often forms patches. The prostate floppy stems can reach 40
cm long. These stems have two opposite lines of hairs, shifting
from side to side between each pair of opposite leaves, which are
placed in alternate directions on the stem. The hairs act as a
barrier to unwelcome crawling insects. The leaves are dark-green,
toothed, hairy and virtually stalk-less.
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The
beautiful little flowers are bright blue with a white 'eye' in
the centre and are borne in opposite stalked racemes below the
upper leaf. The hermaphrodite flowers are pollinated by drone
flies and various bees. If the weather is unfavourable through
rain, the mouth of the flower is not opened and the plant will
eventually self-fertilise. The two-celled ovary develops into a
heart-shaped capsule with a hairy edge. The seeds are said to be
a very good food for birds.
Germander
Speedwell is common throughout Britain in woodland, hedges,
thickets, grassland, waste and stony places, and on banks.
The Latin affix
"chamaedrys" seems to mean 'dwarf oak', due the
(extremely) superficial resemblance of the leaves, which have
wavy-toothed edges, to oak leaves.
The name 'Germander' is a corruption of 'chamaedrys'. It should
not be confused with Wood sage (Teucrium scorodonia),
which is also sometimes known as Germander.
"Medicinal
Action and Uses. Old writers of all countries speak highly
of the virtues of the Speedwell as a vulnerary, a purifier of
the blood, and a remedy for various skin diseases, its outward
application being considered efficacious for the itch. It was
also believed to cure smallpox and measles and to be a panacea
for many ills. Gerard recommends it for cancer, 'given in good
broth of a hen,' and advocates the use of the root as a specific
against pestilent fevers."
"The Germander Speedwell has a certain amount of
astringency, and an infusion of the leaves was at one time
famous for coughs, the juice of the fresh plant also, boiled
into a syrup with honey, was used for asthma and catarrh, and a
decoction of the whole plant was employed to stimulate the
kidneys." (Mrs. Grieve)
See also Wood
Speedwell
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