Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Lamiales Bromhead
Family
Plantaginaceae Juss.
Genus
Veronica L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Veronica cheesemanii Benth. in Hooker, Hooker's Icon. Pl. 14, t. 1366 (1881) subsp. cheesemanii
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Parahebe cheesemanii (Benth.) W.R.B.Oliv., Rec. Domin. Mus. 1: 230 (1944) subsp. cheesemanii
 Description

Lamina ovate, deltoid, spathulate, or rhomboid; margin pinnatifid, to bipinnatifid on basal lobes; leaf hairs unicellular and uniseriate; petiole hairs 0.5–1.0 mm long. Calyx lobe margins pinnatifid.

 Recognition

The deeply pinnatifid lamina, bracts, and calyx lobes, and the longer leaf hairs distinguish this subspecies from subsp. flabellata.

 Distribution

South Island: Western Nelson, Sounds Nelson (Richmond Range), Marlborough (Raglan Range), Westland (Nelson Lakes National Park).

Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2022 CC-BY 4.0
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii distribution map based on databased records at AK, CHR & WELT. Image: K.Boardman © Landcare Research 2022 CC-BY 4.0
 Habitat

Alpine stable rock fields and fell-fields, occasionally more mobile screes, in fine gravel or small stones overlying silty soil. Recorded elevations range from 1372 to 1890 m.

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowers: December–March; fruits: January–May, persisting all year.

 Cytology

2n = 42 (Hair 1970).

 Notes

Some plants, especially in north-west Nelson, have hairs on the abaxial surfaces of corolla lobes.

 Images
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. A small cushion in flower. Rainbow Ski Field, Marlborough. Scale = 10 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © P.J. Garnock-Jones CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. A small cushion in flower. Rainbow Ski Field, Marlborough. Scale = 10 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © P.J. Garnock-Jones CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Sprig. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Sprig. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Leaf surfaces, adaxial (right) and abaxial (left). Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Leaf surfaces, adaxial (right) and abaxial (left). Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Flower with 4 corolla lobes. Note pinnatifid calyx lobes and hairs on the outside of the corolla lobes in the opening bud. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Flower with 4 corolla lobes. Note pinnatifid calyx lobes and hairs on the outside of the corolla lobes in the opening bud. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Capsule and seeds. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © P.J. Garnock-Jones CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Capsule and seeds. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © P.J. Garnock-Jones CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Open capsule and seeds. Scale = 1 mm. Image: W.M. Malcolm © W.M. Malcolm CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica cheesemanii subsp. cheesemanii. Open capsule and seeds. Scale = 1 mm. Image: W.M. Malcolm © W.M. Malcolm CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Parahebe cheesemanii (Benth.) W.R.B.Oliv. subsp. cheesemanii] [Not Threatened]
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 2023: Veronica. In: Breitwieser, I. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand – Seed Plants. Fascicle 9. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Garnock-Jones, P.J.; Albach, D.; Briggs, B.G. 2007: Botanical names in Southern Hemisphere Veronica (Plantaginaceae): sect. Detzneria, sect. Hebe, and sect. Labiatoides. Taxon 56: 571–582.
Garnock-Jones, P.J.; Lloyd, D.G. 2004: A taxonomic revision of Parahebe (Plantaginaceae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 181–232.
Hair, J.B. 1970: Contributions to a chromosome atlas of the New Zealand flora — 13. Parahebe and Pygmea (Scrophulariaceae). New Zealand Journal of Botany 8: 255–259.
Hooker, J.D. 1880–1882: Hooker's Icones Plantarum. Vol. 14. Williams & Norgate, London.
Oliver, W.R.B. 1944: The Veronica-like species of New Zealand. Records of the Dominion Museum, Wellington 1: 228–231.