The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica melanocaulon

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'.
melanocaulon: black stemmed

Common Name(s)

Martins Parahebe

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - RR, Sp

Authority

Veronica melanocaulon Garn.-Jones

Family

Plantaginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Parahebe catarractae subsp. martinii Garn.-Jones; Parahebe martinii (Garn.-Jones) Garn.-Jones;

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (Marlborough (Seaward Kaikoura Mountains from Waima River to Mt Terako and Mason River; Inland Kaikoura Mountains; Wairau Mountains (Spray River)).

Habitat

Lowland to montane. Mostly riparian, growing in gorges and along braided or boulder-choked rivers and stream banks. Also on mostly shaded limestone and greywacke cliffs

Features

Subshrub to 250 mm tall. Stems grey. Branches prostrate to decumbent. Branchlets red-brown to dark purplish. Vegetative internodes 5–40 mm long. Stems bifariously eglandular-pubescence or glabrous. Leaves spreading to recurved. Lamina oblanceolate, obovate, elliptic, 5-35 × 2-15 mm. Upper surface of leaves dull, green, under surface of leaves dull, pale green. Leaf hairs dense, along midrib above and on petiole (upper surface only), eglandular. Apex subacute, obtuse, rounded. Base cuneate. Margin glabrous, serrate, teeth or lobes in 1-5 pairs. Petiole 1–4 mm long. Inflorescence racemose, 6-30-flowered, unbranched, 70-210 mm long at fruiting. Indumentum of peduncle, rachis, and pedicels moderately dense, or glabrous. Peduncle 35-100 mm long, glabrous or eglandular-pubescent (rarely) or glandular-pubescent. Rachis 35-110 mm long, eglandular-pubescent, glandular-pubescent or glabrous. Bracts alternate, linear to lanceolate, obtuse to acute, margins entire, glandular ciliate or glabrous. Pedicels 6-17 mm long, glandular-pubescent, eglandular-pubescent or glabrous. Flowers white or mauve at anthesis; nectar guides evident or obscure, magenta or pink, confined to posterior corolla lobe, colour ring magenta or pink, corolla throat yellow. Calyx 4(-5) lobed, 2.5-4.5 mm long, lobes lanceolate, elliptic or oblanceolate, acuminate to subacute, margins entire, glabrous or with glandular hairs on margins only. Corolla 7-13 mm diameter; tube 1.0-1.5 × 1.0-1.5 mm, hairy inside, hairs short. Stamen filaments white, 3.5–4 mm long, narrowed at base. Anthers pink or mauve, 1.0-1.1 mm long. Nectarial disc sparsely ciliolate or glabrous. Ovary globose, subacute, glabrous, 1.0-1.3 mm long. Style 3.0-5.0 mm long. Capsules weakly flattened, emarginate to didymous, 3.0-4.3 × 3.0-4.0 mm, 1.5–1.7 mm thick, glabrous. Septicidal split of capsule extending ¾-way or to base. Loculicidal split of capsule extending ¼-½-way to base. Seeds ellipsoid or discoid, pale brown to dark brown, 0.7-1.2 × 0.5-1.0 mm

Similar Taxa

Veronica melanocaulon is allied to V. lanceolata from which it is easily distinguished by the prostrate creeping rather than prostrate to erect growth habit; usually dark red-brown, purplish to almost purple-black rather than brown or reddish stems which are in stark contrast to the pale green petioles rather than scarcely contrasting at all; and by the obovate, oblanceolate, rarely elliptic rather than ovate, lanceolate to linear leaves which are broadest above ½-way rather than at or below ½-way. Veronica melanocaulon grows outside the range of V. lanceolata.

Flowering

October - March

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Fruiting

November - September

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from fresh seed, cuttings and rooted pieces. However often difficult to maintain. Best grown in a pot although it appears to require frequent re-potting. Dislikes humid climates.

Threats

Naturally Uncommon, Range Restricted endemic - locally common but known from only a small number of populations scattered over a large area. No threats have been reported though some of its river habitats are being threatened by invasive weeds.

Chromosome No.

2n = 42

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 16 Feb 2016