Veronica lycopodioides
Veronica lycopodioides, or whipchord hebe, is a species of hebe which is endemic to New Zealand.[2] DescriptionVeronica lycopodioides is a short, erect shrub with branches whose leaves grow close to the stem, causing the branches themselves to look scaly and green. The leaves are triangular, have a pointed tip, and may have hair on the margin which can be seen with a hand lens. White flowers, in groups of 6–16, burst from the tip of the terminal branches.[2] The pointed tips of the leaves can be used in the field to distinguish this species from Veronica poppelwellii.[2] A subspecies, Veronica lycopodioides var. patula, is smaller in most respects.[3] Distribution and habitatVeronica lycopodioides grows on the South Island of New Zealand, typically to the east of the central spine of the Southern Alps.[2] It grows on penalpine grassland, and in subalpine areas.[2] It may grow on Stewart Island.[4] It is not currently considered threatened.[1] EtymologyLycopodioides refers to the similarity of this species to Lycopodium club-mosses.[2] TaxonomyThis species was first published in 1864[4] by Joseph Hooker.[3] The lectotype was designated in 2004, with a specimen from Wairau Valley.[5] References
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