Veronica stricta var. stricta
Common names
koromiko
Biostatus
Native – Endemic taxon
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Simplified description
Common bushy shrub bearing pairs of narrow pointed thin leaves inhabiting the North and South Islands. Leaves variable, to 127mm 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 22cm long.
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Detailed description
Shrub or small tree (1-)2(-4) m tall. Branchlets finely pubescent. Stem internodes longer than stem diameter. Leaf bud without sinus. Leaves, spreading, 50-100(-120) mm, dull green to yellow-green (not glossy), lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, somewhat leathery, apex often acuminate, leaf margin usually entire, occasionally toothed. Inflorescence lateral, racemose, much longer than leaves, drooping, sometimes spiraled, all parts except flower finely pubescent. Flowers sweetly (sometimes over powerfully so) scented, lilac, mauve or white. Corolla tube 6 mm, exceeding calyx, narrow, cylindric, lobes rounded. Capsules < 5 mm long, pendent, all parts pubescent.
Similar taxa
Veronica stricta var. stricta (including Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii - which has not valid name in Veronica) differ from the other varieties primarily by the open branching habit, dull-surfaced, somewhat leathery leaves, and by the longer stem internodes. Support for the ongoing recognition of Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii is doubtful. For those who wish to distinguish it, Veronica stricta var. stricta differs from var. atkinsonii by the calyx-lobes, bracts and usually capsules, being finely pubescent, and with the racemes (and capsules) usually drooping.
Distribution
Endemic to the North and northern South Island. Somewhat local in the far North, otherwise common and widespread in the North Island. Only locally common in the northern South Island.
Habitat
Common in successional habitats from coastal areas to lower montane habitats.
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2023 | Not Threatened
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Synonyms
Veronica stricta Benth., Veronica salicifolia var. stricta (Benth.) Hook.f., Hebe salicifolia var. stricta (Benth.) Cockayne et Allan, Veronica parkinsoniana Colenso, Hebe parkinsoniana (Colenso) Cockayne, Veronica salicifolia var. longiracemosa Cockayne, Hebe salicifolia var. longiracemosa (Cockayne) Cockayen et Allan, Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii (Cockayne) L.B.Moore, Hebe stricta (Benth.) L.B.Moore var. stricta
Taxonomic notes
Veronica stricta var. stricta as currently circumscribed remains a very variable species with both diploid (2n = 40) and tetraploid (2n = 80) cytoraces known. Further study into this variation is needed.
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Flowering
(July-) August (-October) but flowering can also occur sporadically throughout the year
Fruiting
(September-) November (-January) but seed capsules may be found throughout the year
Life cycle and dispersal
Seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed and semi hardwood cuttings.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland). If you have suggestions for the Wetland Indicator Status Rating, please contact: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
FACU: Facultative Upland
Occasionally is a hydrophyte but usually occurs in uplands (non-wetlands).
Other information
Cultivation
Commonly cultivated, though not often now seen for sale within commercial nurseries.
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’
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.
VERSVS
Chromosome number
2n = 40, 80
Previous conservation statuses
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2022-2023 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website. This report includes replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Previous assessments can be found here.
- Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023. 2024. Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Regional conservation statuses
Auckland: 2025 | Regionally Not Threatened | Qualifiers: DPS, DPT
The regional threat classification system leverages off the national assessments in the NZTCS, providing information relevant for the regional context. Auckland conservation status information is sourced from the “Conservation status of vascular plant species in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland” Simpkins E et al. (2025) report.
Referencing and citations
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.
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.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared by P.J. de Lange (1 February 2005). Description based on Allan (1961) - see also Bayly & Kellow (2006).
Some of this factsheet information is derived from Flora of New Zealand Online and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand licence.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Veronica stricta var. stricta Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/veronica-stricta-var-stricta/ (Date website was queried)