Kingdom Plantae Family Plantaginaceae Scientific name Veronica derwentiana | Order Lamiales Genus Veronica Rank Species | |
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Similar Derwentia, Veronica nivea, Veronica formosa, Veronica perfoliata | ||
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. 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. The species occurs in a variety of habitats including eucalypt forest and alpine herbfields in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. It is often seen on disturbed sites.
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: