Veronica chillensis H.B.K.

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 : 55

Veronica chillensis H.B.K.

Nova genera et species plantarum 2: 390 ( Humboldt et al. 1817). — V. peruviana Willd. nom. inval. (Art. 30.1; herbarium name). — V. peruviana Willd. ex A. Dietr. Species Plantarum, editio 6. 1: 534 ( Dietrich 1831), nom. inval. (Art. 36.1c; publ. in synonymy of V. chillensis ).

TYPE CITATION. — “Cresit in cultis Regni Quitensis prope Chillo, alt. 1340 hex.”.

LECTOTYPE (designated here). — “Habitat in Peruviae cultis frequentissima juxta Quito”, P[ P04079053* ].

ISOLECTOTYPE. — P[ P00670567* ], B[ B-W 00249-050* , B-W00250- 010* ].

Nomenclatural note. Veronica chillensis was described from “Regni Quitensis prope Chillo” as creeping and pubescent with oblong-spathulate leaves with serrate margin and flowers subsessile. Calyx lobes are supposed to be lanceolate and reflexed in fruit. There is a specimen in Paris (P00670567) sparsely labelled with the name only. Unfortunately, the specimen differs from the protologue in having only a short (3cm) creeping stem with adventitious roots and the main plant being erect. The leaves are not well preserved, although the leaves appear not to be serrate. The calyx lobes are lanceolate but not reflexed. The specimen in Berlin (B-W 00250-010) labelled V. chillensis resembles the plant from Paris but also does not bear more information. It was later labelled as Veronica peruviana by Willdenow. Further material to be considered are those two specimens labelled “ 2227 ” (P04079053, B-W 00249-050). The notebook ( Bonpland & Humboldt 1799 -1804) states under that number a Veronica collected from Chillo (near Quito) collected together with plants similar to V. peregrina (“cum Veronica peregrina aff.”). The name “peregrina ” was later added to the notebook. It is noteworthy that the description in the notebook and the description on the specimen in Paris (P04079053) state that the plant is creeping. Indeed, the plant seems to have re-rooted due to adventive roots near the bottom part of the inflorescence. Many species of Veronica are known to form adventitious roots when the stem comes into secondary contact with wet soil, which frequently happens in disturbed sites. Thus, it appears that all four plants are from Chillo, near Quito, then considered part of Peru, thus the name V. peruviana Willd. The specimen P04079053 appears to have caused the authors to assume they have found a new species with affinities to V. peregrina , and this specimen should be the lectotype.