Hebe Commerson

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 251

22. Hebe Commerson 1

Like Veronica but erect shrubs; leaves opposite, entire or subentire; flowers in opposite axillary racemes; capsule septicidal, compressed parallel to the septum. Terminal buds large, without scale-leaves.

A large genus, almost confined to New Zealand; several species are cultivated in the milder parts of Europe. Some species not represented in Europe differ from the above description in several characters, and the genus is kept distinct from Veronica mainly on account of its characteristic habit. 1 Leaves narrowly lanceolate, 5-8 times as long as wide 1. salicifolia

1 Leaves elliptical to obovate-oblong, 2-4 times as long as wide

2 Young shoots and mature leaves glabrous; racemes dense, many-flowered 2. speciosa

2 Young shoots pubescent; mature leaves ciliate; racemes lax, with c. 10 flowers 3. elliptica