52 Transactions. 



8. Veronica cassinioides H. J. Matthews (in litt.) sp. nov. 



V. humilis erecta ramosa, ramis fastigiatis. Caules infra afoliati cica- 

 tricibus foliorum delapsorum confertis circularibus notati ; rami foliosi 

 foliis patentibu.s v. patulis instructi; ramuli bifariam pubescentes foliis 

 imbricatis vestiti. 



Folia decussata coriacea ± 4 mm. longa anguste lanceolata v. sub- 

 triangulari-lanceolata acute carinata supra + convexa basi latiusculo sessilia 

 vix connata subcompressa glabra integerrima, juniorum marginibus parce 

 ciliatis ; bracteae tenues ovatae marginibus ciliatae. * 



Flores spiciformi-racemosi terminales v. subterminales albi majusculi 

 fere sessiles in paribus oppositis dispositi ; calycis lobi 4, obtusi tenues 

 ciliati, anterioribus duobus paene apicem tenus connatis ; corollae tubus 

 angustus subpilosus calycem excedens, limbus in lobos 4 latiusculos obtusos 

 tubum aequantes sectus ; stamina longe exserta ; stylo stamina sub- 

 aequante. 



Capsula lata a dorso compressa obtusa 5-7 mm. longa calycem duplo 

 superans, apice late emarginata. 



A rather low erect shrub with numerous fastigate leafy branches, usually 

 reddish when dried. 



Stem and older branches leafless, marked by the prominent close circular 

 scars of fallen leaves ; younger branches with more or less scattered patent 

 or spreading leaves ; young shoots hilariously pubescent, clothed with close- 

 set imbricating leaves. 



Leaves decussate, coriaceous, + 4 mm. long, narrow- or subtriangular- 

 lanceolate, acute, keeled, more or less convex above, sessile by a wide 

 base, entire, glabrous, subcompressed, the younger sparsely ciliate at the 

 edges ; bracts thin, ovate, obtuse, with ciliate margins. 



Flowers in a spike-like raceme, terminal or subterminal, white, rather 

 large, almost sessile, arranged in opposite pairs ; calyx-lobes 4, thin 

 obtuse ciliate, the two anterior connate almost to the tips ; corolla-tube 

 narrow, subpilose, longer than the calyx, limb cut into 4 rather broad 

 obtuse lobes as long as the tube ; stamens long, exserted ; style nearly 

 equalling the stamens. 



Capsule broad, dorsally compressed, glabrous, obtuse, 5-7 mm. long, 

 twice as long as the calyx, broadly emarginate at the top, the base of 

 the style generally persistent. 



Rob. — Moist subalpine meadow, Takitimu Mountains, fide H. J. 

 Matthews ; Blue Lake, Garvie Mountains, 4,000 ft., D. L. Poppelwell and 

 D. Steadman ! The nearest ally of this species is V. anomala J. B. 

 Armstrong. 



Of this plant Dr. Cockayne writes in one of his publications, " It 

 appears to me to be without doubt a permanent juvenile form, inter- 

 mediate between the early pinnatifid and adult scale-leaved stages of the 

 whipcord Veronicas, the adult of which is probably extinct. A closely 

 allied plant has recently been collected by Mr. D. L. Poppelwell on the 

 Garvie Mountains, but not in flower, and it may turn eventually into the 

 cupressoid stage."* The Garvie Mountain plant has for some time been 

 in cultivation at the Waikaia Public School garden, and I have well-grown 

 specimens from there, as well as others from Mr. Poppelwell, that clearly 

 establish their identity with Mr. Matthews's V. cassinioides. I know of 

 no valid reason for Dr. Cockayne's fanciful speculations about this plant. 



* Report Aust. Assoc. Adv. Sci., vol. 13, p. 219. 



