Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Lamiales Bromhead
Family
Plantaginaceae Juss.
Genus
Veronica L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis (Ashwin) Meudt, Austral. Syst. Bot. 21: 413 (2008)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Pygmea ciliolata var. fiordensis Ashwin in Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 874 (1961)
  • ≡ Veronica ciliolata var. fiordensis (Ashwin) Garn.-Jones in Garnock-Jones et al., Taxon 56: 577 (2007)
  • ≡ Chionohebe ciliolata subsp. fiordensis (Ashwin) de Lange & A.Mark in Mark & de Lange, Above Treeline: Nature Guide Alpine N. Zeal., 280, 450 (2012)
Holoype: Takahe Valley, rim of cirque, 4000 ft., Oliver s.n., 20 Feb 1952, WELT SP006128
Etymology:
The epithet fiordensis means living in fiords, a reference to its distribution in Fiordland, New Zealand.
 Description

Leaves 1.9–3.3 (sometimes 1.6) × as long as broad; margins sparsely to densely ciliate in lower half, ± glabrous above except for apical tuft. Bracts ciliate for whole length of margin. Calyx lobe surfaces sparsely to densely hairy for whole length; margins ciliate for whole length. Ovary and capsules hairy at apex.

 Distribution

South Island: Fiordland (eastern parts), Southland (western mountains).

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

Sub-alpine to alpine herb-field, cushion herb-field, fell-field, and tussock grassland, open stony ground, among rocks and boulders, on rock outcrops and in crevices, often on exposed ridges. Recorded elevations range from 1340 to 1830 m.

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)

Also indigenous in Tasmania.

 Hybridisation

V. ciliolata subsp. fiordensis × spectabilis (Mark, Takitimu Range, OTA 31255).

V. ciliolata subsp. fiordensis × thomsonii: plants from Eyre Mountains may have sparse hairs in patches (resembling V. thomsonii) or scattered (resembling V. ciliolata) on the adaxial surface.

 Phenology

Flowers: November–January; fruits: December–March.

 Cytology

2n = 42 (Hair 1970).

 Images
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Sprig. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Sprig. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Leaf surfaces, adaxial (left) and abaxial (right). Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Leaf surfaces, adaxial (left) and abaxial (right). Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Male flowers. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Male flowers. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Female flowers. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Female flowers. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © Te Papa CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Calyx with two lobes removed and ovary showing hairs. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © P.J. Garnock-Jones CC-BY-NC 3.0 NZ
Veronica ciliolata subsp. fiordensis. Calyx with two lobes removed and ovary showing hairs. Scale = 1 mm. Image: P.J. Garnock-Jones © P.J. Garnock-Jones 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. [Naturally Uncommon]
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 Chionohebe ciliolata subsp. fiordensis (Ashwin) de Lange & A.Mark] [Naturally Uncommon]
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.
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.
Heads, M.J. 1994: Biogeography and evolution in the Hebe complex (Scrophulariaceae): Leonohebe and Chionohebe. Candollea 49: 81–119. [as Chionohebe ciliolata var. fiordensis]
Mark, A.F.; de Lange, P.J. 2012: New combination in Chionohebe. In: Mark, A.F. Above the Treeline: A nature guide to alpine New Zealand. Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson.
Meudt, H.M. 2008: Taxonomic revision of Australasian snow hebes (Veronica, Plantaginaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 21: 387–421.