Hebe salicifolia (Forst.f.) Pennell

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘New Zealand and Tasmannia [sic] have already brought us acquainted with those beautiful Speedwells, which bear the names of V. speciosa, decussata, labiata, and perfoliata; and many more have yet to be introduced as gay shrubs or herbaceous plants.  Some indeed are probably even now in our gardens, although they have not been hitherto scientifically determined.  That which is here given is of the latter class.  It has indeed been already well figured in Mr. Paxton’s Magazine, but no attempt has been made to determine whether it is really new or not.

We entertain little doubt that it is the Willow-leaved Speedwell of Forster, found by that botanist in New Zealand, and introduced to our gardens a few years since.  The point is not however entirely free from doubt, and the conclusion at which we have arrived is open to revision.  In all accounts which we have of the Willow-leaved Speedwell, it is said to have perfectly entire leaves; but in the garden plant they are serrated, or at least some are.  We find however that wild specimens from Mr. Bidwill, Mr. Allan Cunningham and others, in our herbarium, are absolutely identical with this plant, so far as cultivated and wild specimens are comparable, except that the leaves are in this instance occasionally serrated; but as the serrations of the leaves are quite uncertain in the cultivated plant, we do not feel justified in attaching importance to that circumstance.  Mr. A. Cunningham’s specimens of V. salicifolia, which he had doubtless verified with all possible care, are we think not distinct, except in the serrations as already mentioned.’  [BR f.5/1846]. 

Introduced to Britain in 1843.  [JD].  FS pl.VIII 2e Liv./1846.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.984/1850].  It seems likely that Macarthur received his specimens of New Zealand Hebes directly from John Bidwill.

Notes

Veronica salicifolia A. Cunn. ex Hook.f. (1864) = Veronica macrocarpa Vahl., synonym Hebe macrocarpa Cockayne & Allan, a New Zealand species connected with H. salicifolia by intermediate forms.  [RHSD].