Flora of New Zealand Series

Veronica nivea Hook. f. Ic. Pl. 1844, t. 640 non Lindl. Bot. Reg. 1842, Misc. 42.

V. hookeriana Walp. Repert. 3, 1844-45, 341.

V. nivalis Benth. in DC. Prodr. 10, 1846, 477.

Hebe hookeriana (Walp.) Allan in T.R.S.N.Z. 69, 1939, 276.

Type locality: Tongariro. Type: K, Bidwill.

Low much-branched subshrub with stout, ± woody, prostrate to decumbent rooting stems up to c. 25 cm. long; branches prostrate or ascending, up to 15 cm. long, bifariously or uniformly pubescent. Lvs us. close-set and ± imbricate, often rather stiffly erect or recurved on prostrate branches, thick and coriac.; lamina 4-12 × 3-8 mm., narrow-ovate to suborbicular, deeply crenate to shallowly serrate, glab. or sparsely glandular-hairy or white-pubescent, subsessile or on stout petiole up to 3 mm. long. Racemes 4-8-(12)-fld, densely glandular-hairy or more sparsely white-pubescent in all parts; peduncles stout, (2)-3-6 cm. long; bracts narrow-ovate, c. 3 mm. long, ciliolate; pedicels c. 1 cm. long. Calyx-lobes 2-3 mm. long, ovate-oblong, subacute, ciliolate. Corolla lavender to white, up to c. 1 cm. diam.; tube 1-1·5 mm. long, much < calyx; lobes 4, unequal, spreading, ovate-oblong, obtuse. Capsule c. 4-6 × 3-5 mm., much > calyx, broad-oblong, truncate to emarginate at apex, us. turgid, glab.

DIST.: N. Mt. Hikurangi, Maungapohatu, Kaimanawa and Kaweka Ranges, mountains of Volcanic Plateau, Ruahine Range; subalpine open rocky places and scoria slopes, 1200-1800 m. altitude.

FL. 12-3. FT. 1-4-(6).