Veronica derwentiana

Veronica derwentiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Genus:	Veronica
Species:	V. derwentiana
Binomial name
Veronica derwentiana Andrews[1]
Synonyms
Derwentia derwentiana (Andrews) B.G.Briggs & Ehrend. Derwentia suaveolens Raf. nom. illeg. Parahebe derwentiana (Andrews) B.G.Briggs & Ehrend.

Veronica derwentiana (Derwent Speedwell ) is a flowering plant species of the family Plantaginaceae, endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is sometimes included in the genus Parahebe or Derwentia.^[1] It is a woody herb which grows to 140 cm high. Leaves are 5 to 20 cm long, with a cuneate, truncate or cordate base and toothed margins. The flowers are white, pale lilac or pale blue and appear in 5 to 20 cm long racemes of 40 to 100 flowers in summer.^[2] The species occurs in a variety of habitats including eucalypt forest and alpine herbfields in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.^[2] It is often seen on disturbed sites.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by H.C. Andrews in 1808 in The Botanist's Repository for New and Rare Plants . Subspecies include:^[1]

• V. derwentiana Andrews subsp. derwentiana
• V. derwentiana subsp. homalodonta (B.G.Briggs & Ehrend.) B.G.Briggs
• V. derwentiana subsp. maideniana (Gand.) B.G.Briggs
• V. derwentiana subsp. subglauca (B.G.Briggs & Ehrend.) B.G.Briggs

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Veronica derwentiana". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Veronica+derwentiana. Retrieved 2010-01-06. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Derwentia derwentiana". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Derwentia~derwentiana. Retrieved 2010-01-06. 
3. ^ Corrick, M.G. and Fuhrer, B.A. (2001). Wildflowers of Victoria and adjoining areas. Australia: Bloomings Books. ISBN 1876473142.