Veronica nivea, the milfoil speedwell or snow 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.[2]

Veronica nivea
Veronica nivea
Lake Mountain, Victoria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Veronica
Species:
V. nivea
Binomial name
Veronica nivea
Synonyms
  • Derwentia nivea (Lindl.) B.G.Briggs & Ehrend.
  • Parahebe nivea (Lindl.) Heads

It is a subshrub which grows to between 15 and 50 cm high. The pinnately divided leaves are 1.5 to 3 cm long. The flowers are white, pale lilac or bright blue and appear in racemes of 20 to 40 in summer.[3]

The species occurs in alpine and subalpine grassland, heathland and woodland in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.[3] In New South Wales it is recorded in Kosciuszko National Park[3] while in Victoria it is known from the Baw Baw plateau as well as areas including Mount Buffalo, Lake Mountain and Falls Creek.[4] It is often found on disturbed sites.[5]

The Latin specific epithet nivea means "white as snow" .[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Veronica nivea". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  2. ^ "Veronica nivea". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  3. ^ a b c "Veronica nivea". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Derwentia nivea". Grimwade Plant Collection. The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  5. ^ Corrick, M.G. & Fuhrer, B.A. (2001). Wildflowers of Victoria and adjoining areas. Australia: Bloomings Books. ISBN 1876473142.
  6. ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.