The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica planopetiolata

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'.

Current Conservation Status

2018 - 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

2012 - Not Threatened
2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Veronica planopetiolata G.Simpson & J.S.Thomson

Family

Plantaginaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

PARPLA

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Synonyms

Parahebe muelleri W.R.B.Oliv., Parahebe palno-petiolata G.Simpson et J.S.thomson) W.R.B.Oliv. var. plano-petiolata, Parahebe planopetiolata (G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson) W.R.B.Oliv.

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (South Westland, West Otago (Mt Aspiring and Westland National Parks along the main divide); Mt Tyndall; Symmetry Peaks, Eyre Mountains; Fiordland (Mt McPherson; Wapiti Lake))

Habitat

Subalpine to alpine. Inhabiting scree, moraine, fellfield and on cliff faces.

Features

Subshrub, loose cushion or mat-forming subshrub to 50 mm tall. Stems brown. Branches prostrate. Branchlets red-brown. Vegetative internodes 1-7 mm long. Stems glabrous or sparsely bifariously eglandular-pubescent. Leaves erecto-patent to spreading. Glabrous except for finely ciliate petioles. Lamina oblanceolate, oblong, elliptic, rhomboid, 2-10 × 1-6 mm. Upper surface of leaves glossy, green or dark green, lower surface dull, green, pale green or purple. Leaf hairs absent. Apex obtuse to rounded. Base cuneate. Margin entire or shallowly crenate, teeth or lobes in 0-3 pairs. Petiole 1-5 mm long. Inflorescence 1(-2)-flowered, 5-8 mm long at fruiting. Peduncle, rachis, and pedicels glabrous. Peduncle 1-2 mm long, glabrous. Bracts paired and opposite, spathulate to obovate, obtuse or subacute, glabrous or basally eglandular ciliate. Bract margins entire. Pedicels 1-7 mm long, glabrous. Flowers: Corolla, tube and throat white, pink or violet at anthesis. Nectar guides absent. Calyx 4(-5)-lobed, 3.5-7.0 mm long, glabrous; lobes oblanceolate, obovate or spathulate, obtuse, margins entire, rarely toothed, glabrous. Corolla 7–9 mm diameter, tube 2.0-4.0 × 1.0-1.5 mm wide, lobes glabrous. Stamen filaments white, 1.5-2.5 mm long, not narrowed at base. Anthers magenta, 1 mm long. Nectarial disc minutely ciliolate. Ovary ovoid or fusiform, acute or subacute, glabrous, 1 mm long. Style 2.5-3.5 mm long. Capsules strongly flattened, emarginate or didymous, 3.0-4.0 × 4.0-4.5 mm, glabrous. Septicidal split of capsule extending to base, loculicidal split extending ¼–½-way to base. Seeds ellipsoid or obovoid, pale brown, 0.8-1.0 × 0.5-0.6 mm.

Similar Taxa

Veronica planopetiolata is allied to V. zygantha from which it is distinguished by its more compact growth habit; narrower leaves; sparse or absent stem pubescence - which, if present, is comprised of spreading hairs; mostly solitary flowers borne on glabrous pedicels; and the conspicuous presence of stomata on the lower leaf surfaces.

Flowering

November - January

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

December - April

Propagation Technique

Difficult. Best grown in a rock garden or alpine house in a sunny position with a cool root run.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 84

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 16 Feb 2016