Veronica. ] SCROPHULARINES. 511 
This has the corymbose inflorescence of V. diosmefolia, but differs alto- 
gether in the stout spreading or decumbent habit, much larger broader leaves, 
and in the calyx and corolla. 
20. V. venustula, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 
393.—A small compact bushy shrub 6-9 in. high ; branchlets short, 
numerous. Leaves close-set, decussate, spreading, shortly petio- 
late, 4-in. long, }in. broad, oblong or elliptic-ovate, acute, 
coriaceous, flat or slightly concave, not keeled, dark-green and 
glabrous; midrib prominent beneath, excurrent; margins entire. 
Racemes terminal, much branched, forming a terminal many- 
flowered corymb 2in. diam,; pedicels slender, puberulous ; bracts 
lanceolate, acute, equalling the pedicels. Flowers white, +—4 in. 
diam. Calyx deeply 4-partite; segments ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 
acute. Corolla-tube funnel-shaped, rather longer than the calyx; 
limb 4-lobed; lobes subequal, broadly ovate, obtuse. Capsule 
din. long, broadly ellipsoid, obtuse, more than twice as long as 
the calyx. 
Nort IstanD: Hawke’s Bay—Hastern side of the Ruahine Range, County 
of Waipawa, A. Olsen! 
Of this species I have only seen two small scraps, but these both agree in 
the very distinct character of the inflorescence, which forms a dense terminal 
corymb similar to that of V. diosmefolia, from which plant it differs totally in 
the leaves, calyx, and corolla. Mr. N. E. Brown, who has examined some speci- 
mens forwarded to Kew by Colenso, also states that it is ‘‘a very distinct 
species near to V. diosmefolia.” It is curious that so far it has escaped the 
notice of any collector except Mr. Olsen. 
21. V. diosmeefolia, R. Cunn. in Bot. Mag. sub. t. 3461.—A 
small much-branched shrub, usually from 2-5 ft. high, but some- 
times attaining a height of 15ft., with a slender trunk 4-6 in. 
diam.; branches glabrous or puberulous, ringed with the scars of 
the fallen leaves. Leaves close-set, spreading or suberect, shortly 
petioled, 3-1 in. long, 4-1 in. broad, linear-oblong or oblong-lanceo- 
late to elliptic-oblong, straight or slightly falcate, acute, entire or 
with 2—4 minute incisions on each side near the apex, coriaceous, 
dark-green above, paler and often slightly keeled by the midrib 
beneath, veinless. Racemes about lin. long, peduncled, corym- 
bosely branched, usually near the tips of the branches, but some- 
times lateral; rhachis and pedicels slender, puberulous; bracts 
shorter than the pedicels. Flowers about + in. diam., white or pale 
lavender-blue. Calyx usually 3-partite with the upper segment 
broader and 2-fid, rarely equally 4-partite. | Corolla-tube short, 
funnel-shaped, not much longer than the calyx; limb 4-lobed, the 
posticous lobe the largest. Capsule 4 in. long, ovoid, turgid, about 
twice as long as the calyx.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 381; Raoul, Chow, 
43; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel.i. 193; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 209; Armstr. 
