The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica annulata

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'.
annulata: From the Latin annulatus 'ringed, ring-shaped'

Common Name(s)

Hebe

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 - Sparse

Qualifiers

2012 - RR, Sp, St

Authority

Veronica annulata (Petrie) Cheeseman

Family

Plantaginaceae

Brief Description

Spreading low shrub bearing masses of narrow scaly twigs inhabiting the mountains of western Otago. Leaves scale-like, rounded, clasping stem, with a fuzzy line between the hairy-margined leaves (lens needed for both). Flowers white, in groups of 4-10 at tips of twigs.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Veronica armstrongii var. annulata Petrie, Hebe annulata (Petrie) Andersen, Hebe annulata (Petrie) Cockayne et Allan nom. illeg., Leonohebe annulata (Petrie) Heads

Distribution

Endemic. Eastern South Island where known from Otago and Southland. Sparingly recorded from the Remarkables, Hector, Criffel Ranges and the Takitimu Mountains, also known by one old hsitoric gathering from near Kurow.

Habitat

Upper montane to subalpine. A species of open, sparsely vegetated shrubland where it is usually found at the toe of steep slopes, often in and around boulders.

Features

Low, spreading shrub up to 0.5 x 1 m. Branches whip-like, at first erect or ascending, becoming spreading at maturity; internodes 0.5-2.2 mm; branchlets, including leaves 1.8-2.9 mm wide; fused leaf bases finely hairy; nodal joint obscure, exposed or hidden; leaves long-persistent, not readily abscising. Leaves fused, scale-like, appressed, not thickened near apex; apex obtuse, sometimes finely mucronate; margin conspicuously fine-ciliate; exposed surface (the leaf undersides) green to yellowish-green, veins not evident. Inflorescence 25-70 mm long, terminal, unbranched, bearing 4-10 flowers. Bracts opposite and decussate, fused, semi-circular, obtuse. Flowers white, sessile. Calyx 1.5-2.2 mm, 3-lobed, that is with anterior lobes fused to apex (forming one large lobe which may split longitudinally); lobes broadly oblong, obtuse or slightly emarginate. Corolla tube 1.5-1.7 x 1.2 mm, funnelform, shorter than or equaling calyx, inner portion hairy; lobes white at anthesis, broadly oblong, elliptic to obovate, obtuse, erect or recurved, longer then corolla tube. Stamen filaments 2.6-3.5 mm; anthers 1-1.2 mm, pink or purple. Ovary 0.6-0.8 mm, globose, apex didymous; style 2.5-4.2. Capsules 1.8-2.7 x 1.5-1.9 mm, pale brown, obtuse. Seeds 0.9-1.3 x 0.5-0.8 mm, weakly flattened, pale brown, obovoid or narrow and irregular, more or less smooth.

Similar Taxa

Very similar to Veronica armstrongii and perhaps it might be better placed within that species, possibly at subspecies rank. The main differences are that in comparison to V. armstrongii, V. annulata has stouter branchlets, the leaves are more imbricating (overlapping), more strongly appressed, and their apices typical obtuse, and only rarely mucronate. Cytologically Veronica annulata is diploid (2n = 42) and V. armstrongii tetraploid (2n = 82). Ecologically Veronica annulata appears to be prefer well drained, rocky ground, often at the toe of avalanche debris, or rotational slumps, or in colluvial material. Veronica armstrongii is consistently found in or near permanently wet ground, usually in close association with bog pine (Halocarpus bidwillii).

Flowering

October - January

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

December - March

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings and from fresh seed. An attractive plant for a moist, sunny situation in a free draining soil. A shy flowering species that is intolerant of high humidity and wet climates.

Threats

Aside form Kurow (where the species has not been seen for well over 100 years) there is no evidence of any decline. Hebe annulata just seems to be a naturally, extremely uncommon, plant which in the wild is known from only a few widely scattered locations, and from very few mature individuals.

Chromosome No.

2n = 42

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 16 Feb 2016