Veronica elliptica explained

Veronica elliptica, synonym Hebe elliptica, is a plant of the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to New Zealand (including the Antipodean Islands and the Chatham Islands), south Argentina, south Chile and the Falkland Islands. It is an evergreen, bushy shrub of 1 m or more in height, with green, oval leaves, 2–4 cm long. Flowers are white to pale mauve.

Branches from plants of Veronica elliptica on Disappointment Island, Auckland Islands, New Zealand were used by the survivors of the shipwreck of the Dundonald to build a coracle and oars which they eventually used to successfully reach Auckland Island.^[1]

References

• • Hebe Society entry
• Rhodora 23:39. 1921.
• Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961–. Flora of New Zealand.
• Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage.
• Marticorena, C. & M. Quezada. 1985. Catalogo de la flora vascular de Chile.
• Moore, D. M. 1983. Flora of Tierra del Fuego.
• Zuloaga, F. O. & O. Morrone, eds. 1996. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae y Angiospermae (Monocotyledonae), II. Dicotyledonae. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60, 74., 1999.

Notes and References

1. Book: Escott-Inman, Herbert . The Castaways of Disappointment Island . S.W. Partridge & Co. . 1911 . London . English.