830 SCROPHULARIACEAE. | [ Veronica, 
‘ar LP, Tras 69 : 1939 :27b - 
95. ¥. Hookeriana(W alp) Rep. iii (1844-45) 341.—A small stout much 
or sparingly branched prostrate herb 3-10in. long; branches short, 
stout, ascending, leafy, glandular- pubescent. Leaves crowded, very 
shortly petiolate, spreading, }-4in. long, broadly ovate or oblong-ovate, 
obtuse, coarsely and obtusely crenate, thick and coriaceous, rigid, often 
black when dry, pubescent on both surfaces or glabrous above. Peduneles 
usually several, lateral or near the tips of the branches, 1—2in. long, stout, 
erect, densely pubescent, bearing a 4-8-flowered corymbose raceme at the 
top; bracts, pedicels, and calyces densely glandular-pubescent. Flowers 
i1-1in. diam., variable in colour, from bluish-purple or violet-purple to 
white or white streaked with purple. Calyx 4-partite ; segments ovate, 
obtuse. Corolla-tube very short; limb broad, spreading, 4-lobed ; lobes 
rounded. Stamens rather shorter than the lobes. Capsule broadly oblong, 
about 4 longer than the calyx when mature.— Cheesem. Man. N.Z. 
Fi. (1906) 544. V. nivea Hook. f. Ic. Plant. (1844) t. 640 (not of Lnndl.). 
V. nivalis Benth. in DC. Prodr. x (1846) 477; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 1 (1853) 
196; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 215. V. compacta Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. 
xx (1888) 202. 
Norru Isnanp: Central volcanic plateau, abundant on Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, 
and Ruapehu, chiefly on shingle-slopes and rocky places, Bidwill, H. Hill! T. Kirk! 
Spencer! T. F. C., Cockayne. 3000-6000 ft. 
The usual state of this plant is excellently figured in the ‘“ Icones Plantarum.” 
Its distinguishing characters are the stout habit, rather large closely placed almost 
sessile rigid and coriaceous leaves, stout glandular-pubescent peduncles, and short 
corymbose racemes of rather large flowers. 
96. M. Olseni Col. in Trans. ‘N.Z. Inst. xxviii (1896) 607.— Stems 
prostrate, sparingly branched ; branches short, rooting at the nodes, densely 
pubescent with short spreading hairs. Leaves shortly petioled, rather 
close-set, spreading, }-4in. long, broadly ovate or almost orbicular, obtuse, 
deeply and coarsely serrate, thick and coriaceous, glabrous, dark-green. 
Racemes many-flowered, on strict erect densely pubescent lateral peduncles 
3-5in. long; pedicels }-4in. long, slender. Flowers 4-4in. diam., white 
with pink veins. Calyx deeply 4-partite ; segments broadly ovate, obtuse, 
margins ciliolate. Corolla-tube very short, limb with 4 rounded spreading 
lobes. Stamens shorter than the corolla-lobes. Capsule broadly oblong, 
turgid, emarginate, } as long again as the calyx.— Cheesem. Man. N.Z. 
Fl. (1906) 544. 
Norts Istanp: Ruahine Mountains, Colenso / Olsen, Petrie! A. Wali! Usually 
on shingle-slopes or rocky ridges. 2500-5000 ft. 
I retain this as a species for the present, although far from satisfied as to its dis- 
tinctness from V. Hookeriana, from which it differs mainly in the more slender mode of 
growth, glabrous leaves, more slender and less pubescent many-flowered racemes, and 
= yi bu capsule. It is apparently intermodiate between V. Hookeriana and 
. Lyaliv, 
97. NM. spathulata Benth. in DC. Prodr. x (1846) 477.—A small pro- 
strate excessively branched pubescent little plant, forming dense patches 
3-9 in. across ; branches short, stout, ascending, leafy, clothed with erisped 
white hairs. Leaves crowded, spreading, petiolate, 4-4in. long including 
the petiole, ovate-spathulate or deltoid-spathulate, obtuse, coarsely crenate 
or crenate-lobed, thick and coriaceous, black when dry, more or less hairy 
on both surfaces; petiole about as long as the blade, broad, channelled. 
Peduncles near the tips of the branches, short, stout, pubescent, equalling 
