The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Veronica tairawhiti

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'.
tairawhiti: From the Maori name for the region where this plant is found

Common Name(s)

Wairoa koromiko

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Sparse

Qualifiers

2012 - Sp

Authority

Veronica tairawhiti (B.D.Clarkson et Garn.-Jones) Garn.-Jones

Family

Plantaginaceae

Brief Description

Bushy shrub bearing pairs of thin very long narrow pointed leaves inhabiting the East Cape. Leaves to 150mm long by 11mm wide, widest towards base, with small knobs along margin (lens needed). Leaf base without bud at base. Flowers white, in spikes to 15cm long.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Hebe tairawhiti B.D.Clarkson et Garn.-Jones

Distribution

Endemic. North Island, East Cape Region (from the upper Motu River east), Gisborne, Wairoa (Northern Hawkes Bay) south to Mahia Peninsula.

Habitat

Primarily a coastal shrub of low shrubland, often overlying calcareous mud or siltstones, or base-rich turbidite (flysch) sequences. Will tolerate some browsing pressure and as such may be seen invading pasture in some parts of its range.

Features

Heavily branched, bushy shrub or small tree up to 3 x 2 m. Branches erect, brown to grey-brown; branchlets green maturing red-brown to almost black, bifariously or uniformly puberulent or glabrous; internodes 7-15 mm; leaf scars evident to obscure. Leaf bud distinct, without sinus. Leaves 45-150 x 5-11 mm, upper surface green with broad yellow midrib, undersides paler, linear, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate (tapering evenly from broad base), firmly fleshy, flat of m-shaped in cross-section, recurved, apex acute, base abruptly cuneate, secondary veins, faint by evident in young leaves; leaf margin puberulent, entire or with a few distant teeth. Inflorescence a lateral, unbranched raceme 68-150 mm long, bearing 120-180 flowers; peduncle 6-23 mm; rachis 55-140 mm. Bracts alternate, narrowly deltoid, acute; outside hairy. Flowers white with pedicels 1.3-2 mm long, usually shorter than bracts. Calyx 2-2.5 mm; lobes lanceolate, acute, occasionally with exposed surface hairy. Corolla tube 3-3.5 x 1.5-1.8 mm, inner surface hairy, expanded in lower half, longer than calyx; lobes white or pale mauve at anthesis, elliptic, oblong, to obtuse, mostly erect or suberect to patent, shorter than corolla tube. Stamen filaments 3-5 mm; anthers 2-2.3 mm, mauve or violet. Ovary 1-1.2 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid; style 3.5-4 mm. Capsules 2.7-5.2 x 1.8-2.6 mm, pale brown, subacute. Seeds 0.8-1.2 x 0.5-1 mm, straw-yellow to brown, flattened, ellipsoid, obovoid or discoid.

Similar Taxa

Perhaps most similar to Veronica stricta var. egmontiana from which it differs by its easterly distribution, taller habit, and rather more narrowly lanceolate to linear leaves, which taper from a broad base. From Veronica parviflora it differs by the stamen filaments which are straight in bud, and longer wider leaves with hariy margins, and from V. angustissima chiefly by its preference for coastal habitats, and greater stature.

Flowering

January - April

Flower Colours

Violet / Purple,White

Fruiting

February - December

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings and fresh seed. A very attractive shrub to small tree which does well in full sun with a damp root run. An excellent plant for screening parts of a lawn or garden. An ideal natural hedge which will respond well to some clipping.

Threats

A widespread, naturally uncommon, biological sparse species of coastal to montane shrubland habitats. In some part sof its range it has declined to scrub clearance and the spread of weed species. However other populations seem to be stable, and some (such as those on the Mahia Peninsula) have even colonsied pasture.

Chromosome No.

2n = 80

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Seeds are wind dispersed (Thorsen et al., 2009).

This page last updated on 4 Apr 2016