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Veronica odora, commonly known as Hebe odora is a native shrub to New Zealand. The name ‘Veronica’ was named after Saint Veronica because the common name of this plant was ‘speedwell’, while ‘odora’ is a Latin word for odorous, usually a sweet smell which refers to the flowers. According to Hooker (1844), when naming the species, described the flower as having a “delicious fragrance”.

Description
Veronica odora is a rounded shrub bearing pairs of small oval leaves with a low ridge on the underside inhabiting mountains. It can grow up to 1.5m tall. The leaves that can grow approximately 4.5-11.5mm long and 2.3-5.4mm wide, with abrupt shoulder at base. The leaves are parallel to each other and it abscising above nodes and lower part of petioles remaining attached to the stem. The leaf bud is distinct, sinus broad and shield-shaped. The leaves have dark green glossy upper surface and a pale green surface fill with stomata on the underside. It has green branchlets and as it gets mature it turns in brown, red-brown or grey stems. The green branchlets are puberulent, hairs bifarious, internodes and have a range of size from 1.3-4.5mm.

V. odora (Boxleaf hebe) is a dicotyledon plant which explains the netlike veins on its leaves and the taproot. During flowering season which is between December-January, it produces white flowers in multiples of four or more. As the flowers bloom, the seeds are dispersed and it carried by wind. Moreover, the seeds can be dispersed by animals like birds during their fruiting seasons which is between December-April.

Distribution
Veronica odora (Boxleaf hebe) has a maximum frost resistance of -19°C. Therefore, it can grow on montane to penalpine grassland, shrubland, bogs and flushes environment. Moreover, it has a widespread from south of Huiarau Range, Lake Waikaremoana to on the mountains of North island, South Island, Stewart Island and Auckland Islands.

Interaction
V. odara was one of several streamside plants found to be fed upon by alpine stream invertebrates.

Similar Taxa
Veronica odora (Boxleaf hebe) is distinguished from a similar species of “Buxifoliatae” veronicas by the bracts not extending past the tips of the calyces, inflorescences consisting of a terminal spike, and (usually) no stomata being found on the upper leaf surface. V.odora can be sometimes be confused with V. venustula and V. brachysiphon that may appear on the subalpine shrubland around the North Island and South Island. However, V. odora can be distinguished from both of these species by its shield-shaped leaves, terminal clusters of inflorescences, and flowers and fruits that are attached to the base without a stalk or a stem. Lastly, V. odora has more leather-like, tough and rigid leaf than those species.