Veronica plebeia

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Veronica plebeia
Veronicaplebeia.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronica
Species:
V. plebeia
Binomial name
Veronica plebeia
Synonyms [1]

Veronica deltoidea Spreng.

Veronica plebeia, commonly known as creeping- or trailing speedwell, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Australia and New Zealand.

Robert Brown described the trailing speedwell in 1810 in his work Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [2] He had collected the species near Sydney in May 1802. [1] A 2012 molecular study found it was most closely related to V. grosseserrata . [3]

Veronica plebeia grows as a perennial herb, with stolons reaching 1 m (3 ft) in length. [4] Roots appear at nodes along the stolons. [5] The flowering stems can grow to 10 cm (4 in) tall. The leaves are roughly triangular or heart-shaped (cordate), measuring around 0.8–2 cm (0.3–0.6 in) long, and 0.5–1.6 cm (0.2–0.5 in) across. [4] The lilac to pale blue flowers appear from September to June, with peak times between October and January, as well as April. [5] They grow in clusters of 2 to 8. [6]

Veronica plebeia is found in all Australian states and territories apart from the Northern Territory. It is widely distributed across eastern New South Wales. [4] In Queensland it is found as far north as Tully and the Atherton Tableland. [7] It is rare in Tasmania, restricted to the Tamar Valley and scattered locations on the east coast. [8] It has been recorded from scattered coastal locations in the North Island as well as northwest Nelson in the South Island, and the Chatham Islands. There has been debate over whether it is native or naturalised, but it occurs in areas of little disturbance, suggesting the former. [9] It has become naturalised in Norfolk Island. [4]

It grows on clay soils over shale, in wet sclerophyll forest under such trees as Eucalyptus viminalis , E. fastigata , E. pilularis , in dry sclerophyll forest under Eucalyptus punctata , E. fibrosa , and open woodland under Angophora bakeri , Eucalyptus sclerophylla , Melaleuca decora , Eucalyptus moluccana and E. tereticornis . [5]

The flowers are thought to be pollinated by native bees and flies. [5]

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Goodenia pumilio is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is native to northern Australia and New Guinea. It is a prostrate, stolon-forming herb with egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves in rosettes, and racemes of small, dark reddish-purple flowers.


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<i>Schoenus ericetorum</i> Species of grass-like plant

Schoenus ericetorum, known as heath bog-rush, is a species of sedge native to eastern Australia. A tufted perennial grass-like plant growing to 40 cm tall. Often seen in heath and dry eucalyptus forest on sandy soils. This is one of the many plants first published by Robert Brown with the type known as "(J.) v.v." It appears in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen in 1810.

<i>Chordifex dimorphus</i> Species of flowering plant

Chordifex dimorphus is an Australian species of plant. A perennial, dioecious herb found in the Sydney and Blue Mountains regions. Often seen growing in rocky ground from 30 to 100 cm tall, with stems 1 to 1.3 mm in diameter. The specific epithet dimorphus is derived from Latin, meaning "two forms". One of the many plants first published by Robert Brown with the type known as "(J.) v.v." Appearing in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen in 1810.

References

  1. 1 2 Briggs, Barbara G.; Ehrendorfer, Friedrich (2006). "New Australian species and typifications in Veronica sens. lat. (Plantaginaceae)". Telopea. 11 (3). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust: 276–92. doi: 10.7751/telopea20065729 . ISSN   0312-9764.
  2. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen (in Latin). London, United Kingdom: Richard Taylor and Company. p. 435.
  3. Albach, Dirk C.; Briggs, Barbara G. (2012). "Phylogenetic analysis of Australian species of Veronica (V. section Labiatoides; Plantaginaceae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 25 (5): 353–63. doi:10.1071/SB12014. S2CID   84236446.
  4. 1 2 3 4 B. G. Briggs, B. Wiecek & A. J. Whalen. "New South Wales Flora Online: Veronica plebeia". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (2001). "Ecology of Sydney plant species Part 8 Dicotyledon families Rutaceae to Zygophyllaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 7 (2): 241–462 [352]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-14. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  6. Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2000). Native Plants of the Sydney District: An Identification Guide (2nd ed.). Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. p. 283. ISBN   0-7318-1031-7.
  7. F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Veronica plebeia". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 19 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. "Veronica plebeia" (PDF). Threatened Flora of Tasmania. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  9. Davidson, Geoff R.; De Lange, Peter J.; Garnock-Jones, Phil J. (2009). "Two additional indigenous species of Veronica (Plantaginaceae) from northern New Zealand: V. jovellanoides, a new and highly endangered species, and V. plebeia R. Br". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 47 (3): 271–79. Bibcode:2009NZJB...47..271D. doi:10.1080/00288250909509809. S2CID   85284582.