Veronica raoulii
Synonyms
Veronica raoulii Hook.f. subsp. raoulii, Hebe raoulii (Hook.f.) Cockayne et Allan, Hebe raoulii (Hook.f.) Cockayne et Allan var. raoulii, Parahebe raoulii (Hook.f.) Heads,; Heliohebe raoulii (Hook.f.) Garn.-Jones; Heliohebe raoulii (Hook.f.) Garn.-Jones subsp. raoulii
Family
Plantaginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
Yes
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
HELRAO
Chromosome number
2n = 42
Current conservation status
The threat classification 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. Authors: By 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. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Bushy shrub bearing pairs of small narrow leaves inhabiting rocky open sites in Marlborough and northern Canterbury. Leaves 7-17mm long, margin with up to 8 pairs of teeth. Flowers pinkish, in clusters of usually more than 30..
Distribution
Endemic. South Island – Marlborough and Christchurch
Habitat
Rock outcrops in grassland and scrub, river gorges, occasionally on talus and scree, not on limestone, 150-1100 m.
Features
Subshrub or spreading low shrub, 0.07-0.3 m tall. Branches ascending to erect; branchlets dark red-brown; vegetative internodes 2-10 (-15) mm long; stem pubescence glandular and eglandular (glandular hairs minute and obscure). Leaves erecto-patent to spreading or recurved; lamina usually lanceolate or spathulate, sometimes linear-oblanceolate, 7-17 (-25) x 2-6 (-9) mm wide; apex acute or subacute and subapiculate, rarely acute; margin smooth, or ciliate and glandular-ciliate on petiole and sometimes at apex, serrate; teeth blunt, in (0-) 2-4 (-8) pairs; adaxial surface of leaves green or yellowish green, glossy; midrib depressed to grooved above and beneath. Petiole 2-5 mm long. Inflorescence with (16-) 30-80 (-100) flowers; rachis pubescent; bracts opposite and decussate to subopposite to alternate, eglandular-ciliate or ciliate with both glandular and eglandular hairs. Calyx lobes 4 (-5), eglandular-ciliate, or glandular and eglandular-ciliate. Corolla pink to mauve or white at anthesis, white or mauve after pollination. Stamen filaments inserted between throat and middle of corolla tube, 1.5-2.0 mm long. Nectarial disk ciliate to ciliolate, rarely with a few glandular hairs. Ovary glabrous. Style 4-6 mm long, glabrous, white or pale mauve. Stigma narrowly capitate, 0.2-0.25 mm wide. Capsule turgid or broadly angustiseptate, truncate. Seeds (1.2-) 1.5-2.0 (-2.8) x 0.6-1.2 mm.
Similar taxa
Veronica raoulii is distinguished from Veronica maccaskillii by its narrower, more toothed leaves, often pink corollas, lack of a posterior fifth calyx lobe, and more erect softer habit. Veronica raoulii is distinguished from Veronica scrupea by its oblanceolate leaves with fewer teeth, exserted stamens, and its fused anterior calyx lobes and paler flowers. Veronica raoulii is distinguished from Veronica pentasepala by its fused anterior calyx lobes and lack of a fifth lobe. Veronica raoulii is distinguished from Veronica lavaudiana by its narrower leaves, eglandular indumentum, and more lax inflorescence.
Flowering
(September) October-November (December)
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
(September) October-November (December)
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’.
raoulii: After Raoul
Attribution
Description adapted by M. Ward from Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1993: Heliohebe (Scrophulariaceae Veroniceae), a new genus segregated from Hebe. New Zealand Journal of Botany 31: 334. © The Royal Society of New Zealand, reprinted by permission of Taylor & Francis Ltd, www.tandfonline.com on behalf of The Royal Society of New Zealand.
References and further reading
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 1993: Heliohebe (Scrophulariaceae Veroniceae), a new genus segregated from Hebe. New Zealand Journal of Botany 31: 323-339.
Garnock-Jones, P.J.; Albach, D.; Briggs, B.G. 2007: Botanical names in Southern Hemisphere Veronica (Plantaginaceae): sect. Detzneria, ect. Hebe, and sect. Labiatoides. Taxon 56: 571-582
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: Ward, M.D. (Year at time of access): Veronica raoulii Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-raoulii/ (Date website was queried)