Flora of New Zealand Series

Veronica macroura var. dubia Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 501.

V. obtusata Cheesem. in T.N.Z.I. 48, 1916, 213.

Type locality: "Sea-cliffs on the coast north of Manukau Harbour". Type: A, T. F. Cheeseman.

Semi-prostrate shrub c. 0·5 m. tall, often spreading much more widely. Branchlets reddish, finely pubescent, length of internodes 3-6 × diam. Lvs spreading ± in one plane, 2-5 × 1-2.5 cm., obovate-oblong, sub-coriac. to almost fleshy, dull green; lf-bud without sinus but lf often slightly shouldered above narrow base; lamina obtuse to subacute, entire except for occ. pair of very shallow notches, glab. except for fine pubescence above midrib and more conspicuously on margin. Infls lateral, simple, 4-6-(10) cm. long, peduncle to 2 cm. long. Fls rather crowded, pedicels 1-2 mm. long, = or < narrow subacute ciliate bracts. Calyx-lobes subacute, ciliate, ± pubescent, c. 2 mm. long. Corolla ± lavender-coloured, tube c. 3 × 3 mm., > calyx, lobes c. = tube, ± oblong. Capsule c. 4·5 × 2.5 mm., acute, < 2 × calyx.

DIST.: N. Auckland west coast, Manukau Heads to Muriwai.

FL. 1-6.

Cheeseman's specimens, some 15 twigs in all, are by no means uniform, and choice of type is left open. A single plant often shows considerable range in size and shape of lf.