The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica stricta var. lata

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'

Common Name(s)

koromiko

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Veronica stricta var. lata (L.B.Moore) Garn.-Jones

Family

Plantaginaceae

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.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Hebe stricta var. lata L.B.Moore

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.

Features

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.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 80

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 22 Feb 2016