Plate 148.— VERONJCA DIVERGENS. 



Family SCROPHULARIACE^.] (^Genus VERONICA, Linn. 



Veronica divergens, Cheesem. Ma7i. N.Z. Fl. 502. 



Veromca divergens. as a species, is based upon specimens collected by Mr W 

 Townson on rocks near the sea at Brighton, the mouth of Fox's River, situated 

 about twenty-five niiles south of Westport. So far as I am aware, it has not been 

 found in any other locality; but then very little is known of the vegetation of the 

 coast-line between Westport and Greyniouth, or of Westland generally, and in 

 an probability the^ plant will be found in similar situations elsewhere in those 

 districts. With reference to the Brighton locality, Mr. Townson informs me that 

 he only met with it for a mile or two to the south of Fox's River, where, however 

 in Z^^ r^!^K ^''^^"^'^'^<^' forming bushes attaining an extreme height of 8 ft or 

 10 ft. The flowers were borne in great profusion, so that it was a very striking 

 object It appeared to be purely littoral, and was not noticed far from the actua! 



COrlS u~ I IMG. 



The dis1,ingui.shing characters of V. divergens appear to be the small oblona 

 or e iptic-oblong fiat spreading leaves, long dense racemes, very short and broad 

 corolla-tube oblong-ovate obtuse or subacute sepals, and broadly oblong subacute 

 capsules. It has some relationship with V. macrourn var. duhia but that is a 

 smaller much more diffuse plant, with rather larger and proportionately broader 

 leaves, which are edged with a white pubescent line. The flowers much resemble 

 those of V. graciUima, but the leaves are altogether unhke. being shorter broader 

 and not so acute. Its cross-relationships make it difficult to place; but, on the 

 whole, 1 think that it is best kept in the vicinity of V. macroura. 



Plate U8. Veromca diverqms, drawn from .specimens collected by Mr. W. Townson at Brighton 

 tTtw ''^ ^ r T'f f ^ f V^^fV-^t. Fig. 1, flower (x 4) ; 2. a side view of the same, showing 

 front and back view of anthers (X 8); 6, ripe capside ( x 5) ; 7, seed (enlarged)." 



