Veronica rivalis
Common name
Northland River Koromiko
Synonyms
Veronica acutiflora Benth. nom. illeg., Veronica ligustrifolia var. acutiflora Hook.f., Hebe acutiflora Cockayne
Family
Plantaginaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
HEBACU
Chromosome number
2n = 40
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). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By 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.
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: PD, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: PD
2004 | Range Restricted
Brief description
Shrub bearing long narrow pointed pairs of leaves and spikes of small white flowers inhabiting river banks in Northland. Leaves to 85mm long by 9mm wide, hairy on margin (lens needed), leaf bud without small gap at base. Flower spike to 14cm long. Fruit a dry flattened capsule.
Distribution
Endemic. North Island, Northland where it is known from both the Kerikeri River and Puketotara Stream (near Kerikeri), Waipapa River (Puketi Forest) and Waipoua River.
Habitat
A forest dwelling, rheophytic species of stream and river banks that are prone to frequent flooding.
Features
Spindly, brittle, openly branched 1-1.5 m tall shrub of riverine habitats, favouring sites prone to sudden flooding. Branches erect, rather brittle, brown to grey-brown; branchlets spindly, green, bifariously or occasionally uniformly puberulent, or rarely glabrous; internodes 1.5-29 mm; leaf scars weakly evident or obscure. Leaf bud distinct without sinus. Leaves 15-118 x 3-12 mm, dull dark green to yellow-green, linear to linear-lanceolate, membranous, apex acute to obtuse, margin ciliolate, entire or finely, and distantly denticulate. Inflorescence a lateral, usually unbranched raceme 27-135 mm long, bearing 13-81 flowers; peduncle 5-19 mm; rachis 2-117 mm, longer than or equal to subtending leaves. Bracts alternate, narrowly deltoid or lanceolate, acute, outer surface hairy. Flowers white or tinged pale mauve; pedicels 0.5-5 mm, longer than or equal to bracts, usually recurved in fruit. Calyx 2-3.5 mm; lobes very narrowly deltoid or lanceolate, acute to acuminate, densely to sparsely hairy on the outer surface. Corolla tube 1.3-2.8 x 1.6-01.8 mm, white to pale mauve, shortly funnelform, much shorter than or equal to calyx, internally densely hairy, externally rarely so; lobes white or tinged pale mauve at anthesis, lanceolate, acute, or subacute, suberect to patent, usually longer than corolla tube (sometime shorter), sometimes ciliate and/or hairy on the outer surface. Stamen filaments 4-6.5 mm; anthers 1.9-2.2 mm, mauve. Ovary 0.9-1.2 mm, narrowly ovoid, usually sparsely or minutely hairy; style 3.5-5.5 mm. Capsules 2-3.5 x 1.6-3 mm, pale brown to brown, obtuse or subacute, occasionally sparsely hairy. Seeds 0.9-1.4 x 0.9 -1.1 mm, straw-yellow, strongly flattened, ellipsoid to discoid, weakly winged.
Similar taxa
Recognised by the rheophytic ecology, linear to linear-lanceolate leaves, absence of a sinus, calyces which are hairy on the outside, and very short corolla tube, which is shorter than or equal to the length of calyx. The corolla lobes are sharply acute. It is perhaps most similar to Veronica flavida, V. angustissima, V. ligustrifolia and V. stricta. It differs from all but V. angustissima by its rheophytic ecology, spindly shrub habit, and narrow linear, linear-lanceolate leaves. From V. angustissima by the corolla tube which is shorter than or equal to the calyces, while in V. angustissima it is distinctly longer than the calyx.
Flowering
January - June
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Fruiting
January - December
Life cycle
Seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings and fresh seed. Forms a small bushy shrub that needs frequent pruning to maintain a good shape. Tends to be rather short-lived, and does best in semi-shade with a permanently moist but free draining soil.
Threats
A very localised Northland endemic which has its stronghold in the Waipapa River area of Puketi Forest and probably also the Waipoua River. It is close to extinction along the Kerikeri due mainly to the spread of aggressive weeds (many derived from nearby houses). However, aside from the decline known to be happening there it seems secure elsewhere. In fact the exact distribution of this species remains unknown, and it may be even more widespread than currently believed
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’.
Attribution
Fact Sheet by P.J. de Lange (12 August 2005): Description adapted from Bayly & Kellow (2006)
References and further reading
Bayly, M.; Kellow, A. 2006: An illustrated guide to New Zealand Hebes. Te Papa Press, Wellington.
Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309
Citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Veronica rivalis Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-rivalis/ (Date website was queried)