Tas. 6587. 
VERONICA CARNOSULA. 
Native of New Zealand. 
Nat. Ord. ScRoPHULARINER.— Tribe DIGITALEZX. 
Genus Veronica, Linn.; (Benth, et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. ii. p. 964.) 
Veronica (Decussate) carnosula; fruticulus fere glaberrimus, robustus, ramosus, 
- albo-glaucescens, erectus v. decumbens, ramis oppositis erectis inferioribus 
erebre cicatricatis, ramulis glabris v. puberulis, foliis imbricatis sessilibus 
erecto-patentibus ellipticis concavis crasse carnosis integerrimis enerviis subtus 
ecarinatis, spicis confertis axillaribus et subterminalibus pedunculatis brevibus 
subglobosis densifloris glabris v. puberulis, floribus sessilibus, bracteis coriaceis 
sepalisque oblongis obtusis puberulis, corolla alba lobis lateralibus et antico 
rotundatis, dorsali oblongo, capsula acuta glabra. 
V. carnosula, Hook. f. Handbook of New Zealand Flora, p. 210. 
V. levis, var. 8 carnosula, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zeald. vol. i. p. 194. 
The distinguishing characters of the shrubby Speedwells 
of New Zealand are very difficult to define when examined 
in a living state, and impossible in the dry. Indeed, I 
think it probable that future investigators may find 
material that will unite several of them, and amongst these 
V. carnosula with V. pinguifolia (Tab. 6147). As grown 
at Kew, these two are distinguished at once by the glaucous 
almost white colour of V. carnosula, in contrast with the 
deep green of pinguifolia, but in the Herbarium their best 
diagnostic character is the acute glabrous ovate capsule of 
the latter, as compared with the obovate oblong rounded 
or emarginate one of the latter. Both approach closely 
to V. levis, Benth., and buzifolia, Benth., which have 
keeled leaves, like those of another very closely-allied 
plant, V. Traversii (Tab. 6390); and all are referable to 
the type of the New Zealand V. elliptica, Forst., discovered 
during Cook’s second voyage, and which inhabits also 
Fuegia (specimens from whence are described as V. decussata 
by Aiton in the “‘ Hortus Kewensis”’). Baron Mueller has 
OCTOBER 1st, 1881. 
