Benjamin Elijah/sandbox | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Plantaginaceae |
Genus: | Veronica |
Species: | V. odora
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Binomial name | |
Veronica odora |
Veronica odora, commonly known as Hebe odora is a native shrub to New Zealand. The name ‘Veronica’ was named after Saint Veronica because the common name of this plant was ‘speedwell’, while ‘odora’ is a Latin word for odorous, usually a sweet smell which refers to the flowers. According to Hooker (1844), when naming the species, described the flower as having a “delicious fragrance”.[1]
Description
editVeronica odora is a rounded shrub bearing pairs of small oval leaves with a low ridge on the underside inhabiting mountains.[1] It can grow up to 1.5m tall.[2] The leaves that can grow approximately 4.5-11.5mm long and 2.3-5.4mm wide, with abrupt shoulder at base.[1] The leaves are parallel to each other and it abscising above nodes and lower part of petioles remaining attached to the stem.[2] The leaf bud is distinct, sinus broad and shield-shaped.[1] The leaves have dark green glossy upper surface and a pale green surface fill with stomata on the underside.[2] It has green branchlets and as it gets mature it turns in brown, red-brown or grey stems.[1] The green branchlets are puberulent, hairs bifarious, internodes and have a range of size from 1.3-4.5mm.[1]
V. odora (Boxleaf hebe) is a dicotyledon plant which explains the netlike veins on its leaves and the taproot. During flowering season which is between December-January, it produces white flowers in multiples of four or more.[1] As the flowers bloom, the seeds are dispersed and it carried by wind. Moreover, the seeds can be dispersed by animals like birds during their fruiting seasons which is between December-April.[1]
Distribution
editVeronica odora (Boxleaf hebe) has a maximum frost resistance of -19°C.[3] Therefore, it can grow on montane to penalpine grassland, shrubland, bogs and flushes environment.[1] Moreover, it has a widespread from south of Huiarau Range, Lake Waikaremoana to on the mountains of North island, South Island, Stewart Island and Auckland Islands.[1]
Interaction
editV. odara was one of several streamside plants found to be fed upon by alpine stream invertebrates.[4]
Similar Taxa
editVeronica odora (Boxleaf hebe) is distinguished from a similar species of “Buxifoliatae” veronicas by the bracts not extending past the tips of the calyces, inflorescences consisting of a terminal spike, and (usually) no stomata being found on the upper leaf surface.[1] V.odora can be sometimes be confused with V. venustula and V. brachysiphon that may appear on the subalpine shrubland around the North Island and South Island.[1] However, V. odora can be distinguished from both of these species by its shield-shaped leaves, terminal clusters of inflorescences, and flowers and fruits that are attached to the base without a stalk or a stem.[1] Lastly, V. odora has more leather-like, tough and rigid leaf than those species.
Reference
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Ward, M.D. "Veronica odora". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ a b c d Research, Landcare. "Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Veronica odora". nzflora.info. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ a b Bannister, Peter; Maegli, Tanja; Dickinson, Katharine J. M.; Halloy, Stephan R. P.; Knight, Allison; Lord, Janice M.; Mark, Alan F.; Spencer, Katrina L. (1 June 2005). "Will loss of snow cover during climatic warming expose New Zealand alpine plants to increased frost damage?". Oecologia. 144 (2): 245–256. doi:10.1007/s00442-005-0087-3. ISSN 1432-1939.
- ^ a b Suren, Alastaer M.; Winterbourn, Michael J. (1 September 1991). "Consumption of aquatic bryophytes by alpine stream invertebrates in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 25 (3): 331–343. doi:10.1080/00288330.1991.9516487. ISSN 0028-8330.