Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/571

Veronica.] dorsal one the largest. Capsule broadly oblong, subcompressed, exceeding the calyx.—''Bot. Mag. t. 7338; Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst.'' xiii. (1881) 351.

52. V. Hectori, ''Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 212.—A small robust much-branched shrub 6–30 in. high; stem woody, terete, closely ringed by the scars of the fallen leaves; branches terete or very obscurely tetragonous, stout, rigid, erect, ⅛–⅙ in. diam., blackish-brown when dry. Leaves densely imbricated, opposite pairs connate to the middle or higher and forming a closely appressed ring surrounding the branch (sometimes slightly open at the mouth), $1⁄10$–$1⁄8$ in. long, broader than long, broadly orbicular-oblong, obtuse, concave in front, rounded and polished at the back, not keeled, extremely thick and coriaceous, margins of the younger leaves often ciliolate. Leaves of young plants not seen. Flowers axillary, crowded at the tips of the branchlets, forming small terminal heads, about ¼ in. diam., white. Calyx-segments linear-oblong, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube about as long as the calyx; lobes oblong, obtuse, dorsal one the largest. Capsule exceeding the calyx, broadly oblong, subcompressed, obtuse.—''Bot. Mag. t. 7415; Armstr. in Trans. N.Z. Inst.'' xiii. (1881) 352.

53. V. coarctata, Cheesem. n. sp.—A small stout much-branched shrub 1–3 ft. high; branches close, spreading; branchlets numerous, rather stout, $1⁄12$–$1⁄10$ in. diam, terete or obscurely tetragonous, densely clothed with appressed imbricating leaves, blackish when dry. Leaves of mature plants densely imbricating, about $1⁄10$ in. long, the opposite pairs connate to above the middle into a ring or sheath closely appressed to the branch, obtuse or subacute, thick and coriaceous, smooth and polished on the back; margins usually ciliolate. Leaves of young plants not seen. Flowers ⅕–¼ in. diam., white, from 4 to 8 near the tips of the branchlets, forming small terminal heads; bracts broad, ciliolate. Calyx short; segments oblong, obtuse, ciliolate. Corolla-tube included in the calyx; lobes spreading, the dorsal one the largest. Capsule about ⅙ in. long, nearly twice as long as the calyx, ovoid, obtuse.