Veronica pimeleoides subsp. faucicola
Common names
hebe
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Simplified description
Blue-green sprawling shrub bearing pairs of oval pointed leaves on reddish stems inhabiting dry rocky sites in Otago. Leaves 7.5-15.5mm long by 3.1-8.7mm wide. Leaf bud with small narrow gap between leaves at base. Flowers white or pinkish, in spikes with up to 24 flowers.
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Detailed description
Small bushy shrub growing up to 70cm tall. Inflorescences have between 4 and 12 flowers. The flowers are mauve but fade to pale pink (or almost white) after pollination.
Distribution
Endemic to South Island, apparently restricted to central Otago in the Manuherikia, Kawarau and Clutha river valleys. May be more widespread.
Habitat
Occurs in exposed rocky outcrops and cliff faces. Often found growing in gorges.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Hebe pimeleoides var. rupestris Cockayne et Allan nom. illeg.; Hebe pimeleoides subsp. faucicola Kellow et Bayly
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
December - March
Fruiting
January - May
Other information
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’.
pimeleoides: Like a pimelea
faucicola: From the Latin fauces ‘throat, gorge’ and -cola ‘dweller, inhabitant’, meaning gorge dweller in reference to this plant’s habitat.
Chromosome number
2n = 40, 80
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel 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: RR, Sp
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR, Sp
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: CD
2004 | Gradual Decline
Regional conservation statuses
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Otago conservation status information is sourced from the “Regional conservation status of indigenous vascular plants in Otago” Jarvie S et al. (2024) report.
Otago: 2024 | At Risk – Regionally Declining | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT, NR, NStr, PF, RR, Sp, TL
Referencing and citations
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared by P.J. de Lange for NZPCN (1 June 2013)
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Veronica pimeleoides subsp. faucicola Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-pimeleoides-subsp-faucicola/ (Date website was queried)