The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica colostylis

Etymology

Veronica: Named after Saint Veronica, who gave Jesus her veil to wipe his brow as he carried the cross through Jerusalem, perhaps because the common name of this plant is 'speedwell'. The name Veronica is often believed to derive from the Latin vera 'truth' and iconica 'image', but it is actually derived from the Macedonian name Berenice which means 'bearer of victory'.

Common Name(s)

None Known

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Veronica colostylis Garn.-Jones

Family

Plantaginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

PARBRE

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Parahebe linifolia subsp. brevistylis Garn.-Jones, Parahebe brevistylis (Garn.-Jones) Heads

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (on both sides of the main divide from Rangitata River to Fiordland and The Hump)

Habitat

Montane to alpine. On cliffs, rock outcrops, river gravel, river banks, moraines and in grassland.

Features

Low subshrub, 50-150 mm tall. Old stems brown. Branches decumbent to ascending. Branchlets brown or red-brown or purplish. Vegetative internodes 1-8 mm long. Stem pubescence absent or bifarious, eglandular pubescent. Leaves decussate, erecto-patent to recurved. Lamina linear to oblong (narrowly), 4-15 × 1-3 mm. Upper surface of leaves green, glossy. Under surface of leaves pale green, dull. Leaf hairs sparse to scattered, along margins (especially at base), eglandular. Apex rounded or truncate. Base cuneate. Margin ciliate (especially at base), entire. Petiole 1-3 mm long. Inflorescence racemose, unbranched, 10-40 mm at fruiting, with 2-6 flowers. Indumentum of peduncle, rachis, and pedicels absent. Peduncle 3-20 mm, glabrous. Rachis 0-15 mm long, glabrous. Bracts alternate (basal pair sometimes subopposite), obtuse, glabrous (rarely a few hairs on margin at base), linear to elliptic (narrowly). Bract margins entire. Pedicels erecto-patent at anthesis to suberect at anthesis, incurved at fruiting, 4-15 mm long, glabrous. Flowers: Calyx 4-lobed, 3-9 mm long. Calyx lobes lanceolate to deltoid or elliptic or obovate, subacute to obtuse. Calyx hairs absent (calyx glabrous). Calyx lobe margins entire. Corolla white at anthesis. Nectar guides pink, obscure or absent, confined to posterior corolla lobe if present. Colour ring pink or absent. Corolla throat same colour as lobes. Corolla 5-10 mm diameter. Corolla tube 1.2-3.5 × 1.0-2.0 mm wide, glabrous. Corolla lobes glabrous. Posterior corolla lobe elliptic to ovate, obtuse, 5-7 × 3-5 mm. Lateral corolla lobes elliptic to ovate, subacute to obtuse, flat, not enfolding stamens, 5.0-7.0 × 3.5-5.0 mm. Anterior corolla lobe elliptic (narrowly), subacute, 4.0-7.0 × 2.0-3.5 mm. Stamen filaments white, 1-3 mm long, not narrowed at base. Anthers pink to magenta, 1.0-2.0 mm long. Nectarial disc glabrous. Ovary flattened, globose, obtuse, glabrous, 1-2 mm long. Style 2-4 mm long. Stigma 0.4-0.7 mm wide. Capsules broadly angustiseptate, truncate to emarginate, 3.5-4.0 × 3.5-4.0 mm, glabrous. Septicidal split of capsule extending to base. Loculicidal split of capsule extending ¼-½ way to base. Seeds strongly flattened, smooth-surfaced, ellipsoid, brown, 0.5-0.8 × 0.3-0.6 mm

Flowering

October - December

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

December - April

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from cuttings, rooted pieces and fresh seed. Best in an alpine house, or rock garden. Dislikes humidity and drought intolerant.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 42

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 16 Feb 2016