If. tresefpala Cel) Chu SARK. 60°4992G+- 472 
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798 SCROPHULARIACEAE. Veronica. 
Norra Isuanp: Hawke’s Bay—Eastern 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. diosmaefolia, from which plant it differs totally in the leaves, calyx, and 
corolla. Mr. N. E. Brown, who has examined some specimens forwarded to Kew by 
Coienso, also states that it is ‘‘a very distinct species near to V. diosmaefolia.” It ig 
curious that so far it has escaped the notice of any collector except Mr. Olsen. 
, 
' 29: WV. diosmaefolia R. Cunn. in Bot. Mag. (1836) sub. t. 3461. — 
A small much-branched shrub, usually from 2-5 ft. high, but sometimes 
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, $-1 in. long, 4-4 in. broad, 
linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate 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 sometimes 
lateral ; rhachis and pedicels slender, puberulous ; bracts shorter than the 
pedicels. Flowers about }in. diam., white or pale lavender-blue. Calyx 
usually 5-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 }in. long, 
ovoid, turgid, about twice as long as the calyx.—A. Cunn. Precur. (1838) 
381; Raoul Choix (1846) 43; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 193; Handb. 
N.Z. Fl. (1864) 209; J. B. Armstr. in. Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiii (1881) 351 ; 
Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 511. —V. diosmaefolia var. trisepala T. Kirk 
im Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii (1896) 525; Hook. f. Bot. Mag. (1897) t. 7539. 
Vy. trisepala Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv (1883) 324. 7. bo 472, 
Nortu istanp: Auckland—In various localities from the North Cape to Whangarei, 
but far from common. Hawke’s Bay—North end of Te Kaweka Mountain, A. Hamilton / 
The distinguishing characters of this well-known species are the narrow acute 
leaves, truly corymbose inflorescence, usually 3-partite calyx with obtuse segments, 
and comparatively short corolla-tube. Its nearest ally is V. Menziesii, which is 
separated mainly by the equally 4-partite calyx with acute segments, long corolla- 
tube, and larger capsules. Mr. Kirk has divided it into 2 varieties; one, which he 
considered to be the typical state, with rather broader and shorter entire leaves and a 
4-partite calyx; the other, which answers to the V. trisepala of Colenso, and which he 
called var. trisepala, with narrower incised leaves and a 3-partite calyx. But entire or 
incised leaves occur in both forms, so that the difference between the two varieties 
really consists in the number of calyx-segments alone, or rather in the extent to which 
the two upper sepals are united. It seems hardly worth while keeping up a distinction 
founded on such a slight character, but if it is retained the form with a 3-partite calyx 
should be considered as the type, seeing that it extends through the whole range of the 
species, whereas the form with the calyx 4-partite is rare in the wild state. Cunning- 
ham does not mention the number of calyx-segments in the original description, but 
both Bentham (DC. Prodr. x (1846) 460) and Hooker (Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 193) give 
the number as 3. fine phar? 
30. V. Menziesii Benth. in DC. Prodr. x (1846) 461.—A compact perfectly 
glabrous shrub 3-12 ft. high ; branches terete, leafy. Leaves usually rather 
close-set, shortly petiolate, suberect or spreading, 4-1 in. long, 4-} in. broad, 
lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate or linear-oblong, acute, rigid, coriaceous, flat 
or slightly keeled beneath. Racemes crowded near the tips of the branches, 
1-2 1n. long, peduncled, corymbosely branched, very rarely simple, erect 
or erecto-patent ; rhachis slender, puberulous ; pedicels variable in length. 
Hf - SB thhrida S4T Finns V8 1/6 2 
$ 
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