The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica amplexicaulis f. amplexicaulis

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'.
amplexicaulis: From the Latin amplexus 'clasped' and caulis 'stem' or 'stalk', meaning stem-clasping

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 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - Sp

Authority

Veronica amplexicaulis J.B.Armstr. f. amplexicaulis

Family

Plantaginaceae

Brief Description

Low bushy shrub with blue-green oval pairs of leaves which clasp the stem at their base and with very short (to 5cm long) spikes of white flowers inhabiting inland south Canterbury. Leaves broad, with reddish margin, 12-21mm long. Leaf bud with no gap at base.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Hebe amplexicaulis var. erecta Cockayne et Allan, Hebe amplexicaulis var. suberecta Cockayne et Allan, Hebe amplexicaulis (J.B.Armstr.) Cockayne et Allan f. amplexicaulis

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (south Canterbury (Mt Somers, Mt Peel, Four Peaks Range and Orari Gorge).

Habitat

Low montane to subalpine (mostly subalpine). A rupestral of steep-sided rock outcrops – where it grows in joints and crevices, gorges and more rarely boulder falls

Features

Small to medium-sized shrubs, branching from the base. Stems trailing to erect, naked except near apex, sparingly branched, glabrous or sometimes with a few hairs near leaf bases, 150-600 mm long. Leaves oblong, spreading, glaucous, glabrous, amplexicaul or abruptly narrowed to broad base, 10-30 × 5-15 mm; apex obtuse, rarely acute; margins red or green. Inflorescence a dense simple spike, peduncle hairy, 20-25 mm. Flowers sessile. Bracts and calyx lobes about equal, 2.0-2.5 mm, ciliate or pubescent all over, broadly ovate, subacute. Corolla white, tube exceeding calyx, lobes narrow. Anthers purple. Capsule ovoid, rounded at apex, narrowly latiseptate, pubescent, very dark brown, about equalling calyx; valves thick walled.

Similar Taxa

Similar to Veronica pareora from which it is distinguished by its usually shorter stems, smaller leaves, pubescent peduncles, and usually non-pedicellate flowers (some plants in the upper Rangitata area have inflorescences whose basal flowers are pedicellate). Veronica amplexicaulis f. amplexicaulis differs from f. hirta by its glabrous leaves and mostly glabrous branchlets

Flowering

October - January (-March)

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Fruiting

January - December

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from cuttings and fresh seed. Prefers a sunny site and should be planted in a free draining soil. Dislikes humidity

Threats

Not Threatened. A Naturally Uncommon, range restricted and sparsely distributed plant which is widespread but never particularly common within its few known habitats. Some populations may be threatened by browsing animals.

Chromosome No.

2n = 40

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 22 Feb 2016