Parahebe

A small genus of dwarf shrubs and subshrubs (one species herbaceous), allied to Veronica and Hebe and mainly or perhaps wholly confined to New Zealand. They are less woody than the true hebes, but the main difference is that the capsules are laterally compressed, whereas in most hebes they are dorsally compressed (as if by pressure acting from the bract towards the inflorescence-rachis). There is also a difference of chromosome number. The genus is nearer to Veronica than is Hebe, and the resemblance is particularly marked in the species described here, with their speedwell-like flowers.