Veronica stricta var. lata
Common name
koromiko
Synonyms
Hebe stricta var. lata L.B.Moore
Family
Plantaginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Chromosome number
2n = 80
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
Low growing bushy shrub to 1m tall bearing pairs of narrow leaves inhabiting the eastern North Island. Leaves variable, to 70.5mm long, widest around middle and tapering towards narrow tip, margin hairy (lens needed). Leaf bud with no gap at base. Flowers white or pinkish, spike to 12cm long.
Distribution
Endemic to the Central North Island and Raukumara Ranges.
Habitat
Common in open sites within montane forest, in subalpine scrub and associated talus slopes.
Detailed description
Compact shrub < 1 m tall, usually wider than tall. Branchlets glabrescent. Stem internodes shorter than or equal to stem diameter. Leaf bud without sinus. Leaves, spreading, 50-115 mm, dark green, glossy, elliptic, fleshy, apex acute, leaf margin usually entire, or toothed. Inflorescence lateral, racemose, much longer than leaves, occasionally drooping, bracts and calyx-lobes ciliolate otherwise all other inflorescence structures glabrous. Flowers white, not obviously scented. Corolla tube 6 mm, exceeding calyx, narrow, cylindric, lobes rounded. Capsules < 5 mm long, glabrous, erect.
Similar taxa
Veronica stricta var. lata and var. egmontiana differ from other varieties of V. stricta by their compact branching habit, somewhat firmly fleshy leaves, which may be dull or glossy, shorter stem internodes and tetraploid chromosome number. Veronica stricta var. egmontiana differs from var. lata by the linear-lanceolate, dull green (not glossy) leaves, and generally larger growth form. The name Veronica stricta var. lata is here used in the narrow sense of the original naming author, such that this variety is restricted to the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Ranges. However some field botanists feel that those tetraploid plants found on the Central Volcanic Plateau and var, lata of the greywacke ranges (Kaimanawa and Kaweka Ranges) should be merged with var. egmontiana at species rank. This unpublished opinion has confused the literature as to what Veronica stricta var. lata is and where var. egmontiana actually occurs. A revision is needed.
Flowering
(July-) August (-October) but flowering can also occur sporadically throughout the year
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
(September-) November (-January) but seed capsules may be found throughout the year
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and semi hardwood cuttings.
Etymology
veronica: Named after Saint Veronica, who gave Jesus her veil to wipe his brow as he carried the cross through Jerusalem, perhaps because the common name of this plant is ‘speedwell’. The name Veronica is often believed to derive from the Latin vera ‘truth’ and iconica ‘image’, but it is actually derived from the Macedonian name Berenice which means ‘bearer of victory’.
stricta: From the Latin strictus ‘upright, stiff’
Where To Buy
Not commonly cultivated. Probably not available commercially though it is possible that some forms sold as Veronica (Hebe) stircta var. egmontiana are referable to var. lata.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 February 2005). Description based on Allan (1961) - see also Bayly & Kellow (2006)
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I, Wellington, Government Printer
Bayly M. and Kellow A. (2006). An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Hebes.Te Papa Press: Wellington
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Veronica stricta var. lata Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-stricta-var-lata/ (Date website was queried)