Flora of New Zealand Series

Veronica vernicosa Hook. f. Handbk N.Z. Fl. 1864, 208.

V. greyi J. B. Armst. in N.Z. Ctry J. 3, 1879, 57.

V. vernicosa var. gracilis Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 520.

Type locality: Upper Wairau [Nelson]. Lectotype: K, Dr. Munro No. 12, Jan. 1854.

Semi-prostrate to erect shrub to 1 m. tall, with branches ± horizontally disposed. Branchlets bifariously to fully pubescent, length of internodes 1-2 × diam. Lvs spreading, often distichously by twisting of petioles, c. 15 mm. long, elliptic to obovate, subcoriac., ± glossy or varnished above; lf-bud with long narrow sinus; lamina subacute, the extreme tip blunt and thickened, entire, us. glab. Infls lateral, simple, 3-5 cm. long, very slender; peduncle short, hairy-pubescent. Fls shortly pedicelled in axils of short ciliolate bracts. Calyx-lobes 1-1·5 mm. long, us. quite obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla white, tube < calyx, lobes 3-3·5 mm. long when dry. Capsule erect, not strongly acuminate, glab., pale, us. c. 3 × calyx.

DIST.: S. Marlborough, east Nelson and west Amuri. Floor of beech forest, from sea level to timber line.

FL. 11-2.

Veronica greyi was altered to V. grayi in T.N.Z.I. 13, 1881, 354. Type locality: "From the Waiau, Nelson Province [now Canterbury], J. B. Armstrong". Type: CM, Herb. Armstrong, "Waiau Valley, 3000 ft, J. B. A."

V. vernicosa var. gracilis was published without specified locality. Lectotype: A, 8032, Mt. Arthur Plateau, Nelson, alt. 3000 ft, T. F. C., 1562 to Kew.

V. vernicosa var. multiflora Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 1906, 520. "Racemes very numerous, forming a crowded mass near the tips of the branches, slender, tapering, many-flowered." Seen by Cheeseman only in cultivation. Lectotype: A, 8029, garden of H. J. Matthews.

In cultivation H. vernicosa, like H. colensoi, sts produces a terminal as well as lateral racemes, giving a paniculate appearance; occ. lateral racemes are forked, and this has been seen also in one specimen collected on Mt. Arthur.