Corn Speedwell (Veronica Arvensis) タチイヌノフグリ（立犬の殖栗）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis) is a member of the speedwell's family. Its flowers are so tiny, just 3 to 5 mm in diameter (see the last photo to see how tiny they are!), and are open only during the day that you wouldn't notice them unless you crouch to look for something on the ground like me😆!  

The speedwell siblings (below) have terrible but funny Japanese names, which were given by Dr. Tomitaro Makino, a late Japanese botanist: 

• Veronica polita (grey field-speedwell) named "inu no fuguri," which translates to "dog's balls," after the resemblance of its fruit shape to dog's balls.
• Veronica persica (Persian speedwell) named "ooinu no fuguri," which translates to "large dog's balls" after its larger flowers than those of grey field-speedwell.
• Veronica arvensis (corn speedwell) named "tachi inu no fuguri," which translates to "standing dog's balls" after its stems standing upright.

2026/4/26

Persian Speedwell (Veronica Persica) オオイヌノフグリ（大犬の陰嚢）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) is native to West Asia or Europe, is believed to have come to Japan in the late 19th century, and can now be found across Japan. There are a variety of speedwell (see below) but Persian speedwell is the easiest to tell because of its relatively larger size than other types. Persian speedwell usually produces blue flowers but some produce pinkish blue ones (scroll down). 

Speedwell of any type is pretty but has a terrible Japanese name each as follows:

• Grey field-speedwell (Veronica polita) => イヌノフグリ or "dog balls"
• Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) => オオイヌノフグリ or "large dog balls"
• Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis) => タチイヌノフグリ or "standing dog balls"
• Ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) ==> ツタバイヌノフグリ（フラサバソウ） or "ivy-leaved dog balls"

This is because according to Tomitaro Makino (1862 - 1957), who named them, the fruits of grey field-speedwell look like the balls of a dog (which I've never seen). Tomitaro Makino is a Japanese botanist. He dropped out of elementary school after two years, but studied botany on his own and eventually received a Doctor of Science degree from The University of Tokyo. 

2026/4/19

Pale Speedwell (Veronica Cymbalaria) コゴメイヌノフグリ（小米犬の陰嚢）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Pale speedwells (Veronica cymbalaria) are native to Europe. Speedwells can be found across Japan, but this type isn't so prevalent as other speedwells and can be found in and around Tokyo. (I took these pictures in Tokyo.) 

Pale speedwell's Japanese name is "kogome inu no fuguri," translating into "small rice dog balls." The name contains "small rice" because of its size and color and "dog balls" for a terrible reason, which you can read here. If you're interested in other speedwells, read the following posts!    

• Grey field-speedwell (Veronica polita) ➡ イヌノフグリ or "dog balls"
• Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) ➡ オオイヌノフグリ or "large dog balls"
• Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis) ➡ タチイヌノフグリ or "standing dog balls"
• Ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) ➡ ツタバイヌノフグリ（フラサバソウ） or "ivy-leaved dog balls"

2026/3/16

2026/3/16

2026/3/16

Ivy-Leaved Speedwell (Veronica Hederifolia) フラサバソウ/ツタバイヌノフグリ（蔦葉犬の陰嚢）

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia). They're native to Europe and resemble corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis), which is also native to Europe, but ivy-leaved speedwell's stems and leaves are hairy unlike corn speedwell's. Ivy-leaved speedwell's Japanese name is "tsutaba inu no fuguri," which translates to "ivy-leaved dog's balls (terrible!)." Other four speedwells also have terrible Japanese names as follows:

• Grey field-speedwell (Veronica polita) named "inu no fuguri," which translates into "dog's balls," after the resemblance of its fruit shape to dog's balls.
• Persian speedwell (Veronica persica) named "ooinu no fuguri," which translates into "large dog's balls" after its larger flowers than those of grey field-speedwell.
• Corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis) named "tachi inu no fuguri," which translates into "standing dog's balls" after its stems standing upright.
• Pale speedwell (Veronica cymbalaria) named "kogome inu no fuguri," which translates into "small rice dog's balls."　

All were named as such by Tomitaro Makino (1862 - 1957) after the fruits of grey field speedwell, whose shape resembles the balls of a dog (scroll down to see them). Tomitaro Makino is a Japanese botanist. He dropped out of elementary school after two years, but studied botany on his own and eventually received a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Tokyo.

2022/3/8