196 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF [Si-ss. Lvr. 



occurs also at Cape Horn and on the Falkland Islands, 

 They form a most conspicuous feature of the vegetation of 

 New Zealand by the beauty and ubiquity of the various 

 species of large bushes so many of them form, and also by 

 the remarkable forms many of them present. The species 

 are difficult of discrimination. Numerous intermediate forms 

 exist between many apparently distinct ones. They vary 

 extremely in all their organs, and appear to hybridise freely 

 in a natural state ; consequently very great confusion exists 

 as to their correct nomenclature. Nearly every genus of 

 any magnitude in the colony shows variability to a remark- 

 able degree, but in none is there so extreme variability to be 

 found as in these Veronicas. Althougli many handsome 

 shrubs have been introduced from New Zealand into our 

 gardens of recent years which are decided ac(]^uisitions, such 

 as tlie various species of Olcaria, Scnecio, &c., and there are 

 many other species and genera yet to be introduced, of great 

 beauty and hardiness, from high elevations on the New 

 Zealand mountains, yet none will be found more valuable for 

 garden purposes generally than the various species of Veronica. 

 Many of them are indeed most beautiful plants : from the 

 tiny V. Bidvnlli, a little trailing species, to the dense and 

 compact V. Traversli, 6 feet in height, there is not one 

 but is worthy of the most careful cultivation and attention. 



One of the earliest to be introduced was tlie very hand- 

 some but tender V. spcciosa, li. Cuun. This has large, 

 leathery, entire, and shining leaves, with dense racemes of 

 dark purple flowers. It is a native of the northern island, 

 and is found near the sea-coast. All the species that 

 inhabit these districts in New Zealand are too tender for 

 out-door culture in this country during winter, except in a 

 few mild districts near the sea, where th(;y flourish in great 

 luxuriance for long periods without being injured by frost. 

 V. salicifolia, Forst., V. elliptica, Forst., V. Lnvatidiana, 

 Eaoul, V. parvijlora, Vahl, V. dioswo'folia, R. Cunn., all 

 found near the sea-coast, are among the tenderest kinds we 

 have in cultivation, and were very early introduced into this 

 country. Some beautiful hybrids of V. mlicifolia crossed 

 with V. sprxiosn, also liyl)rids between V. elliplica and 

 V. s'pcciosa, have been raised in this country, but chiefly in 

 France. One of the first hybrids obtained was V. Andersoni. 



