Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Veronica stenophylla Steudel, Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 2, 760 (1841) var. stenophylla
Synonymy:
  • Hebe stenophylla (Steudel) Bayly & Garn.-Jones in Bayly et al., New Zealand J. Bot. 38: 173 (2000) var. stenophylla
  • = Veronica parviflora var. angustifolia Hook.f., Bot. Mag. 98, t. 5965 (1872)
  • Hebe parviflora var. angustifolia (Hook.f.) L.B.Moore in Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 912 (1961)
Lectotype (designated by Bayly et al. 2000): Botanical Magazine: t. 5965 (1872)
  • = Veronica angustifolia var. abbreviata Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 53: 371 (1921)
Holotype: Valley of the Ure R., Marlbro [Marlborough], B.C. Aston, early Apr 1915, WELT 5340
 Description

Stem pubescence glabrous or bifarious to uniform. Lamina linear to narrow-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 19–87 mm long, 2.5–9.5 mm wide, dull above; stomata sparse to dense; minute pits abundant, or confined to near margins; margins usually glabrous or sometimes minutely hairy towards apex. Inflorescence 26–95 mm long; pedicels glabrous. Corolla tube 3.0–4.9 mm long, glabrous within.

 Distribution

North Island: Auckland (a few sites near Hamilton, e.g., Narrows Bridge, Waikato River), Gisborne (a few scattered sites in the south), Taranaki (near Whanganui and in the Ruahine Range only), southern North Island (Hawke’s Bay, Kaweka Range, Kaimanawa Mountains, and Ruahine Range, Manawatu, Wairarapa coast.

South Island: Western Nelson, Sounds Nelson, Marlborough, Westland and Marlborough (north of a line from Cape Farewell to Cape Campbell).

A collection labelled Dillon River (Martin, WELT SP082014, not mapped here) might be from south of this range, or it could be from Dillon Creek, close to Blenheim.

 Habitat

Bluffs, terraces, hillsides, open rocky sites, stream banks, gorges, and roadsides. Recorded elevations range from 1 to 1280 m.

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowers: December–April (occasionally to September); fruits: January–July, persisting all year.

 Cytology

2n = 40 (see Bayly & Kellow 2006, as Hebe stenophylla var. stenophylla).

 Notes

Veronica stenophylla var. stenophylla includes a range of populations that differ morphologically in several characters, particularly habit, leaf shape and size, and distribution of leaf stomata. North Island plants on mudstone usually have lower stature, often narrower leaves and more abundant leaf stomata than plants on greywacke and other rocks. For details, see Bayly & Kellow (2006).

 Bibliography
Bayly, M.J.; Garnock-Jones, P.J.; Mitchell, K.A.; Markham, K.R.; Brownsey, P.J. 2000: A taxonomic revision of the Hebe parviflora complex (Scrophulariaceae), based on morphology and flavonoid chemistry. New Zealand Journal of Botany 38(2): 165–190.
Bayly, M.J.; Kellow, A.V. 2006: An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Hebes. Te Papa Press, Wellington. [as Hebe parviflora var. angustifolia (Hook.f.) L.B.Moore; Hebe stenophylla (Steudel) Bayly & Garn.-Jones; Hebe stenophylla (Steudel) Bayly & Garn.-Jones var. stenophylla; Veronica angustifolia var. abbreviata Petrie; Veronica parviflora var. angustifolia Hook.f.]
Cockayne, L.; Allan, H.H. 1926: The present taxonomic status of the New Zealand species of Hebe. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 57: 11–47.
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 Hebe stenophylla (Steudel) Bayly & Garn.-Jones var. stenophylla] [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.
Hooker, J.D. (ed.) 1872: Curtis's Botanical Magazine Comprising the Plants of the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew and of other botanical establishments in Great Britain with suitable descriptions; and a supplement of botanical and horticultural information. Vol. 98. Reeve, London.
Kirk, T. 1896: Notes on certain Veronicas, and descriptions of new species. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 28: 515–531.
Petrie, D. 1921: Descriptions of new native flowering-plants, with a few notes. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 53: 365–371.
Richard, A. 1832: Essai d'une Flore de la Nouvelle Zélande. In: Dumont d'Urville, J. Voyage de découvertes de l'Astrolabe. Botanique. Tastu, Paris.
Steudel, E.G. 1841: Nomenclator Botanicus. Editio secunda. Vol. 2. typis et sumptibus J.G. Cottae, Stuttgartiae, Tubingae.