The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica vernicosa

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'.
vernicosa: Varnished

Common Name(s)

Hebe

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 vernicosa Hook.f.

Family

Plantaginaceae

Brief Description

Spreading low growing untidy shrub bearing pairs of glossy oval leaves inhabiting beech forest treelines of northern South Island. Leaves 5-20mm long to 8mm wide, with scattered hairs on margin (lens needed). Flowers white, tube hidden by green base, in spikes to 7cm long towards tip of twigs.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

HEBVER

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Veronica vernicosa var. gracilis Cheeseman, Veronica vernicosa var. multiflora Cheeseman, Veronica greyi J.B.Armstr., Hebe vernicosa (Hook.f.) Cockayne et Allan

Distribution

Northern South Island. from Gouland Downs in the northwest to the St James Range in the south, and as far east as the Robertson Range, near Picton.

Habitat

Grows in beech forest at a range of altitudes, often at or near the treeline.

Features

Spreading low shrub to 0.8 m tall. Branches spreading or ascending, old stems dark grey or brown; branchlets green or brown, hairs bifarious to uniform (hairs on leaf decurrencies often finer and shorter than those between); internodes 1.5-7 mm; leaf decurrencies evident or obscure. Leaf bud distinct; sinus broad and acute or almost shield shaped. Leaves subdistichous, patent or erecto-patent; lamina elliptic or obovate, very slightly concave, 5-20 x (2.5-) 3.5-7.5 (-8) mm; apex apiculate and obtuse or subacute; midrib depressed to grooved above and thickened below (at least slightly); margin sometimes cartilaginous, glabrous or ciliolate; upper surface dark green, glossy, with few or without evident stomata, hairy along midrib (usually) or glabrous; lower surface dull or slightly glossy (but less so than upper surface). Inflorescences with (9-) 12-35 (-43) flowers, lateral, unbranched, (1.6-) 2.5-5 (-7.2) cm; peduncle (0.2-) 0.5-1.2 (-1.4) cm; rachis (1.2-) 1.6-5.5 (-6) cm. Bracts mostly opposite and decussate below and becoming alternate above or alternate, ovate or deltoid, obtuse to acute, glabrous outside. Flowers hermaphrodite. Pedicels 0-3.5 mm. Calyx (1.2-) 1.4-1.8 (-2.5) mm; lobes ovate to elliptic, almost always obtuse or rarely subacute (e.g. in some material from Picton and Pelorus Sound). Corolla tube glabrous, 0.6-1.5 x 0.8-1.3 mm, shorter than calyx; lobes white at anthesis, ovate (sometimes narrowly) or elliptic, obtuse, suberect to patent, longer than corolla tube. Stamen filaments 3-5 (-5.5) mm; anthers pale pink or white, approximately 1.25-1.75 mm. Ovary 0.7-1.4 mm; ovules approximately 9-10 per locule; style 2.7-5.5 mm. Capsules subacute or obtuse, 2.8-4.2 x 1.6- 2.5 mm, loculicidal split extending ¼-½-way to base. Seeds flattened, ellipsoid or obovoid or oblong, pale brown, 1.3-1.5 x 0.9-1.1 mm, micropylar rim 0.3-0.5 mm.

Similar Taxa

Most similar to V. canterburiensis, with which it often co-occurs. Specimens with flowers or fruits are readily separated, but sterile specimens can be difficult to identify. V. vernicosa differs by having corolla tubes shorter than calyces; calyces (1.2-) 1.4-1.8 (-2.5) mm long; usually longer, tapering inflorescences of (1.6-) 2.5-5 (-7.2) cm; pale pink or white anthers. It has, in comparison to V. canterburiensis, a more restricted ecological range, occurring in or at the margins of beech forest and (although it can be common at or near treeline) is not widespread in open, subalpine habitats.

Flowering

(October-) November-January

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

(December-) February-May (-September)

Chromosome No.

2n = 42

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 13 Nov 2019