Riverhead speedwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riverhead speedwell |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
 Nationally Critical (NZ TCS) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Veronica jovellanoides, commonly known as Riverhead speedwell, is a threatened flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. Endemic to New Zealand, it is currently only known to be found in the Ernest Morgan Reserve, a 20ha forest northwest of Auckland, where it was discovered by chance in 2007.
It grows into a mat with flowering beginning in spring, yielding white flowers and later small brown seeds which are dispersed by the wind.
Description
Veronica jovellanoides is a creeping plant which grows into a mat 2–3 m across. It has 2 m long red-brown stems which are covered in many tiny hairs. Although it can cover a large area, it grows prostrate and only reaches a height of 5 cm. It has 4.5–12 mm spatula-shaped leaves which are green on top and a paler green below. The leaves also have reddish margins and are suspended from 2–10 mm long very hairy pedicels. The leaves are hairy as well and toothed, with three to five pairs on each side. Flowering occurs from October to December and produces a white flower which has a four-lobed corolla (four petals), with a purple ring around the throat of the flower. The flower is 10–12 mm in diameter and the throat itself is a yellow-green colour. Fruiting is from December to February yielding pale brown 1.2–1.8 by 1–1.4 mm seeds. The capsules split open on wetting, revealing the deeply flattened seed.
-
The growth habit
-
The leaves
Taxonomy
It was discovered in November 2007 when a local plant nursery owner and trustee of the NZFRT Geoff Davidson found it growing in the Ernest Morgan Reserve on a walk with the field officer (of the NZFRT) Sharon Graham. He mistook it for Jovellana repens at first, but was puzzled by the fact that the reserve is out of its range, so he took a cutting of it and grew it on. Peter de Lange, a New Zealand Botanist, suggested that it was a Veronica, an observation proved upon the plant's flowering. Phil Garnock-Jones, an expert of New Zealand Hebe and related genera, suggested that it was a new species and the two botanists, together with Geoff Davidson, published their findings in the 2009 issue (Volume 47:3) of the New Zealand Journal of Botany. Their article is titled: "Two additional indigenous species of Veronica (Plantaginaceae) from northern New Zealand: V. jovellanoides, a new and highly endangered species, and V. plebeia R.Br.." In 2010 Peter de Lange moved the species into the genus Parahebe because it was preferred by many to still be used, though more recent botanical consensus suggests that Parahebe itself should be merged with Veronica.
Veronica jovellanoides was given the nickname "Bamboozle" by botanists due to its elusive nature. On trying to find the plant again after its discovery, four people searched the reserve for 80 hours and still didn't manage to locate it. Only 40 members of the Auckland Botanical Society walking together in a line managed to spot one patch of it.
Etymology
Veronica is after Saint Veronica, who presented Jesus her veil so that he could wipe his brow as he carried the cross through Jerusalem. The name itself is from the Macedonian name Berenice meaning: "Bearer of victory."
The specific epithet jovellanoides is due to its similarity to Jovellana repens with which it was first confused.
The common name Riverhead speedwell comes after the fact that the Ernest Morgan Reserve lies just north of the Riverhead Pine Plantation, a popular recreation spot for Aucklanders.
Distribution and habitat
Veronica jovellanoides is endemic to New Zealand and occurs only (as of 2009) in the upper North Island in the Ernest Morgan Reserve northwest of Auckland. The 20 ha reserve was formed in 1985 when the land was bought from the landowners by a combination of the NZ Native Forests Restoration Trust, the Auckland Regional Authority and the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (who were chosen to administer it).
There are only 3 plants known in the wild, all within an area of 6m
, growing on shaded and damp ground among ferns, mosses and liverworts. The reserve itself has the Ararimu Stream running through its southern boundary which was used by Māori as a portage route between the Waitemata and Kaipara Harbours. Forest cover is mainly made up of kauri and tanekaha, with rimu and kahikatea in the lower sections.
Cultivation
Veronica jovellanoides is easily grown from both rooted pieces and stem cuttings and are very attractive plants when in flower. Species grown in Wellington have been observed to be very susceptible to powdery mildew, though not at all in Auckland.
Plants were available from Geoff Davidson's nursery in Otaria (Oratia Native Plant Nursery), which shut down in 2018.
Images for kids
-
A close up of the flower.
-
Seeds
