Veronica demissa Samp.

Albach, Dirk C., 2025, From just a few to the most type-rich herbarium for Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae) - The effect of digitization of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle herbarium in Paris, Adansonia (3) 47 (7), pp. 47-130 : 95

Veronica demissa Samp.

Annaes de sciencias naturaes (Porto) 7: 117 ( Sampaio 1901).

TYPE CITATION. — Portugal, Porto: “Habitat in arenosis maritimis, prope “Villa do Conde” […] Encontrei-a pela primeira vez em 2 de maio do anno corrente”.

LECTOTYPE. — Designated by Sánchez Agudo et al. (2012: 868): PO[ PO6935 *].

ISOLECTOTYPES (designated here). — “ April 1901 ”, K[ K000806830 !*]; “ May 1901 ”, BREM!, GB[ GB0782882 !], MA[ MA111989 *], MPU!, P[ P03945080 *].

Nomenclatural note. Veronica demissa is stated by Sampaio (1901) to differ from V. arvensis by its smaller stature, yellowish-green color, and slightly fleshy leaves. Furthermore, bracts are all ovate, obtuse, and shorter than the flowers. Sepals are shorter than the capsule, smaller corolla, resembling V. peregrina , which has white flowers without visible veins. Sampaio (1901) stated that he never observed intermediates to V. arvensis . Indeed, all collections by Sampaio are highly similar, conform to the description and are basally strongly branched. Still, most of the characters are in the range of variation of V. arvensis , especially those on nutrient-poor, warm, and exposed habitats. As stated by Sampaio (1901) he found the plants in coastal habitat and in fact this seems to be a coastal ecotype.

The name V. demissa was lectotypified by Sánchez Agudo et al. (2012) with the specimen present in Porto (PO). In the description of the species, Sampaio (1901) stated that he collected many specimens and sent them to several correspondents directly. Therefore, it is no surprise to find isotypes in other herbaria. Sánchez Agudo et al. (2012) mentioned a specimen in Madrid (MA111988), but that specimen has the wrong date (1903). There is another specimen in MA with the right date and both were labeled by Sanchez Agudo as isolectotype. I, here, provide a more complete list of isotypes.