''Veronica breviracemosa'', synonym ''Hebe breviracemosa'',
is a plant in the
hebe group of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Plantaginaceae
Plantaginaceae, the plantain family, is a large, diverse family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales that includes common flowers such as snapdragon and foxglove. It is unrelated to the banana-like fruit also called "plantain." In older cl ...
native to
Raoul Island
Raoul Island (''Sunday Island'') is the largest and northernmost of the main Kermadec Islands, south south-west of 'Ata Island of Tonga and north north-east of New Zealand's North Island. It has been the source of vigorous volcanic activity ...
of
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
's
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands ( mi, Rangitāhua) are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga. The islands are part of New Zealand. They are in total ar ...
, where it is found in coastal cliffs and headlands.
History
The species is very rare. It was once believed to have been consumed by goats to the point of extinction. When the island's last goat was shot in 1983, that same day a goat hunter discovered a single instance of the plant. It was the only example found in the wild until 1997, when, as part of a weed-eradication program, people searching the steep, volcanic cliffs of Raoul Island discovered fifty of the plants. Cuttings and seedlings raised from these plants are now being planted across Raoul Island. Nonetheless, the species still remains at severe risk of extinction, mainly through weed invasion of its unstable, volcanic cliff habitat.
Features
In warmer parts of the country, ''Veronica breviracemosa'' can flower throughout the year, while farther south it usually flowers in the summer months. Fruits can occur throughout the year but are more common in the summer.
References
External links
New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
breviracemosa
Flora of the Kermadec Islands
Endangered flora of New Zealand
{{NewZealand-plant-stub