Veronica simulans
Common name
hebe
Synonyms
Hebe crenulata Bayly, Kellow et de Lange
Family
Plantaginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
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.
HEBCRE
Chromosome number
2n = 80
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). 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.
2012 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Bushy shrub bearing pairs of oval leaves, paler underneath, that often have small notches in the margin and have small hairs on the upper surface of the central vein inhabiting mountains of northern South Island. Leaf bud with small gap between base of leaves.
Distribution
Endemic. New Zealand: South Island (north-west Nelson south east to north Canterbury in and about the main divide)
Habitat
Subalpine shrubland and tussock grassland, usually in shallow mountain soils or on rock strewn ground, rubble slopes and on rock outcrops.
Features
Shrub or spreading low shrub, to 1 m tall. Branches erect, or ascending; old stems dark brown (mostly), or grey; youngest branchlets brown, or red-brown, or green; internodes 1.0–7.5 mm long; stem pubescence bifarious, eglandular. Leaf bud about as long as mature leaves; sinus broad and acute. Leaves free at base, erecto-patent to patent; lamina obovate, oblanceolate or elliptic, coriaceous, concave, 6.4–19.6 × 3.5–7.9 mm; apex obtuse to acute; base cuneate; evident venation in fresh leaves consisting of midrib only; midrib thickened beneath and depressed to grooved above; margin usually slightly thickened, rounded (or ± squarish), minutely papillate and sometimes glandular-ciliate, entire or crenate (may vary on one plant); upper surface green, slightly glossy or dull, with many or with few or without evident stomata, hairy along midrib; lower surface glaucous or glaucescent or light green, dull, glabrous. Petiole 1.0–2.5 mm long, hairy above (along midrib). Inflorescences with 4–16 flowers, lateral, racemose and unbranched (mostly) or sometimes racemose and compound with 1–2 branches at base, 9–31 mm long, longer than (mostly) or about equal to subtending leaves; peduncle 1–65 mm long, pubescent with a mixture of eglandular and glandular hairs; rachis 4–21 mm long, pubescent with a mixture of eglandular and glandular hairs; bracts opposite and decussate, usually free or connate (only sometimes, and then only connected by a very narrow ridge), subacute or acute or acuminate, ciliolate with both glandular and eglandular hairs, lanceolate or deltoid; pedicels < or
Similar taxa
Veronica simulans is most similar to V. cryptomorpha and V. cockayneana from which V. simulans is mostly distinguished by the presence of small teeth on the margins of the leaves (though some southerly populations lack these). When toothed leaves are present, these will readily distinguish plants of Veronica simulans from V. cockayneana. Veronica simulans is further distinguished by its chromosome number (2n = 80, 2n = 40 in V. cryptomorpha and 2n = 120 in V. cockayneana)
Flowering
November - January
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Fruiting
December - May
Life cycle
Seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from cuttings and fresh seed. An attractive shrub for a rock garden. Dislikes humidity.
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’.
Where To Buy
Not Commercially Available
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 November 2009). Description based on Bayly et al. (2002) and Bayly & Kellow (2006)
References and further reading
Bayly M.; Kellow A. 2006: An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Hebes.Te Papa Press: Wellington
Bayly, M.J.; Kellow, A.V.; Mitchell, K.A.; Markham, K.R.; de Lange, P.J.; Harper, G.E.; Garnock-Jones, P.J.; Brownsey, P.J. 2002: Descriptions and Flavonoid Chemistry of New Taxa in Hebe sect. Subdistichae (Scrophulariaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 40(4): 571-602.
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Veronica simulans Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-simulans/ (Date website was queried)