Akmstrong. — On the Genus Veronica. 849 



them Lave been collected, as it is extremely difficult to furnish descriptions 

 embracing all the numerous variations, and a considerable amount of study 

 of the sub-genus is necessary before the student can even understand the 

 most simple variations assumed by the species. When the first difficulties 

 are conquered, however, it will be found that there is no other New Zealand 

 family of plants so interestiug as this. 



The curious dimorphism shown in sub-genus III. deserves a very careful 

 study. It has occurred to me that the upper lobulate leaves, so often absent, 

 are the true leaves, and that the scale-like productions commonly called 

 leaves are in reality not true leaves, but changed petioles. I have not, 

 however, been able to bring forward any facts to prove this, and it offers a 

 wide and interesting field for future study. Should this idea be substan- 

 tiated, it will connect the sub-genus with the section represented by V. 

 haastii, etc. 



Genus Veronica, Linn^us. 



This genus is a very extensive one, found in most temperate and in some 

 sub-tropical countries. The sixty species found in the colony are not found 

 in any other country, except in the case of V. elliptica, which occurs at Cape 

 Horn and the Falkland Islands. 



PEOPOSED AEEANGEMENT. 



Sub-genus I. — Eu-veronica. The Speedwells. 

 Capsules laterally compressed, didymous (rarely non-didymous). Herbs 



or under-shrubs. 

 Series A. — Flowers solitary, axillary. 

 Leaves y2-^ inch long, hairy, ovate ... 1. V. canescens. Kirk. 



Series B. — Floivers racemose ; leaves entire. 

 Leaves J-1 inch, linear, glabrous ... 2. F. linifolia, H.f. 



Series C. — Leaves deeply toothed; flowers racemose. 

 Leaves |— 1 inch, ovate-cordate ... ... 3. F. elongata, Benth. 



Leaves ^— J inch, ovate -spathulate ... 4. F. spathulata, Benth. 



Leaves J-^ inch, ovate, glabrous ... ... 5. V. nivalis, H.f. 



Creeping leaves xV~i" ii^ch, oblong, glabrous 6. F. hidivillii, H.f. 

 Decumbent leaves J— J inch, oblong-ovate 7. F. lyallii, H.f. 

 Leaves -l-l^^ inch, ovate, obtuse ... ... 8. F. diffusa, H. 



Leaves 1-1|- inch, lanceolate ... ... 9. F. lanceolata, Benth. 



Leaves 3-6 inches, ovate-lanceolate ... 10. F. cataractce, Forst. 



Sub-genus 11. — Koromika. The Koromikos. 

 Capsules dorsaUy compressed, ovoid, valves often splitting at the tips. 

 Section 1. — Leaves deeply serrate or crenate. 



