Veronica societatis
Common names
hebe
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Simplified description
Low growing shrub sprawling through grass on Mt Murchison. Leaves blueish-green oval, dished, 9-24mm long by 4-8.5mm wide, overlapping. Leaf bud with small gap between base of leaves. Flowers white, in spikes to 4cm long towards tip of branches.
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Detailed description
Decumbent subshrub to 300 mm tall. Branches decumbent or ascending and unbranched for (60-)110-240(-370) mm from apex; old stems brown, young green or red-brown. Internodes 2.8-9.7 mm long. Leaf bud about length of mature leaf, sinus broad, and acute. Petiole 1-2 mm. Leaves erect to erecto-patent; lamina elliptic to obovate (5-)9-24(-37) x (2-)4-8.5(-10) mm, glaucous, coriaceous, concave, apex obtuse to subacute, base cuneate. Inflorescences 10-25-flowered, lateral, racemose, unbranched, 15-35 mm long, overtopping subtending leaves. Flowers hermaphrodite. Peduncles 45-70 mm long, pubescent. Bracts with lowermost pair opposite, then subopposite or alternate above. Pedicels shorter than bracts, suberect at fruiting. Calyx tapered, 2-3.5 mm, 4-lobed; lobes elliptic, subacute to obtuse. Tube 2-2.5 x 1.5 mm, white, funnelform. Corolla lobes elliptic to ovate or obtuse, white. Anthers purple. Capsules pale brown, 3.7-5 x 2.4-3.2 mm.
Similar taxa
Distinguished from all other hebe species by the decumbent, sparsely branched habit (with ascending terminal branches), glaucous leaves, acute leaf sinus, shortly pedicellate flowers, bracts shorter than calyces, and corolla tubes that are equal to the calyces.
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, to the summit of Mt Murchison., Braeburn Range.
Habitat
A local component of low sub-alpine herb field dominated by carpet grass (Chionochloa australis). So far it has only been found on rather steep, north-east facing slopes
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: OL
Threats
Discovered in 2000. Known from just one site where there are 250 adult plants. Although not directly threatened, feral pigs have damaged and in some cases killed plants as they uproot the carpet grass in which this hebe grows. Veronica societatis meets the criteria of Nationally Critical because there are so few plants and because of the small area they occupy. It has yet to be found anywhere else.
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Hebe societatis Bayly et Kellow
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
Unknown - because of the species recent discovery (February 2000) and the fact that it occurs in a relatively remote location, flowering and fruting times are not yet established
Fruiting
Unknown - because of the species recent discovery (February 2000) and the fact that it occurs in a relatively remote location, flowering and fruting times are not yet established
Life cycle and dispersal
Seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings. Fresh seed should germinate easily.
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’.
Chromosome number
2n = 42
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: OL
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Bayly, M.J.; Kellow, A.V. Hebes, identification, classification and biology. Wellington, Te Papa Press
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
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 October 2006. Description based on Bayly & Kellow (2006).
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Veronica societatis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-societatis/ (Date website was queried)