Veronica zygantha
Synonyms
Parahebe laxa (G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson) W.R.B.Oliv., Parahebe plano-petiolata var. laxa (G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson) Ashwin, Veronica laxa G.Simpson et J.S.Thomson nom. illegit.
Family
Plantaginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
Chromosome number
2n = 84
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: DP, RR, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (Fiordland—Freeman Burn, Fowler Pass, Doon River).
Habitat
Subalpine to alpine. Inhabiting screes, talus slopes and moraines often in fine sandy debris accumulated among boulders. Often on east-facing boulder screes and talus slopes below cliffs.
Detailed description
Subshrub (softly woody) to 150 mm tall. Stems dark brown or grey. Branches decumbent to ascending. Branchlets brown to red-brown. Vegetative internodes 1–20 mm long. Stems uniformly eglandular-pubescent to glandular puberulent. Leaves erecto-patent to spreading. Lamina elliptic, orbicular or spathulate, 3–10 × 2–9 mm, adaxial surface glossy, bright green; abaxial surface dull, pale green. Leaf hairs absent. Apex rounded or truncate. Base cuneate. Margin glabrous, crenate or bluntly serrate; teeth or lobes in 0-5 pairs. Petiole 3–5 mm long. Inflorescence 1–(3)-flowered, 8–15 mm long at fruiting. Indumentum of peduncle, rachis, and pedicels moderately dense. Eglandular hairs of inflorescence, white, antrorse (curved). Peduncle 1–12 mm long, eglandular-pubescent. Rachis 0–20 mm long, eglandular-pubescent. Bracts alternate obtuse, glabrous, spathulate, margins entire. Pedicels 1–3 mm long, eglandular-pubescent. Flowers white at anthesis, throat white or yellow. Nectar guides absent. Calyx 4-lobed, 4–8 mm long, glabrous, lobes oblanceolate to obovate, subacute to obtuse, margins entire, glabrous. Corolla 5–6 mm diameter, tube 1.5–3.0 × 1.5–2.0 mm wide, glabrous. Stamen filaments white, 0.5–2.0 mm long. Anthers purple, 1.0–1.5 mm long. Nectarial disc glabrous. Ovary globose, obtuse, glabrous, 1–2 mm long. Style 0.5–3.0 mm long. Capsules strongly flattened, didymous, 4–5 × 3.5–5.0 mm, 1.5–2 mm thick, glabrous; septicidal split extending to base; loculicidal split extending ½-way to base. Seeds ellipsoid, pale brown, 1.0–1.3 × 0.6–0.7 mm.
Flowering
November–January
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
December–April
Propagation technique
Difficult. Best grown in a rock garden or alpine house in a sunny position with a cool root run.
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’.
zygantha: From the Greek xugeo ‘to be joined’ and anthos ‘flower’
Where To Buy
Not Commercially Available
Attribution
Fact Sheet by P.J. de Lange (5 October 2006). Description adapted from Garnock-Jones and Lloyd (2003).
References and further reading
Garnock-Jones PJ, Lloyd DG. 2003. A taxonomic revision of Parahebe (Plantaginaceae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(2): 181–232. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.2004.9512899.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Veronica zygantha Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-zygantha/ (Date website was queried)