Class
Order
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Veronica stricta var. lata (L.B.Moore) Garn.-Jones in Garnock-Jones et al., Taxon 56: 579 (2007)
Synonymy:
- ≡ Hebe stricta var. lata L.B.Moore in Allan, Fl. New Zealand 1, 907 (1961)
Holotype: Kaweka Mountains, west of Kuripapango Hill, c. 4400 ft, on rocky outcrop, A. P. Druce (457), 5 May 1959, CHR 76144. Isotype: K
Etymology:
Vernacular Name(s):
koromiko
Description
Stems brown to dark brown when dry, glabrous or sometimes a few very short hairs in bifarious bands. Leaves lanceolate, narrowly elliptic, or oblanceolate, 26.0–70.5 mm long, 5.7–16.0 mm wide; lamina sub-coriaceous to coriaceous, eglandular-puberulent on midrib above, glabrous on midrib beneath; margin usually puberulent or rarely glabrous. Calyx lobes glabrous on faces, mixed glandular- and eglandular-ciliolate on margins; corolla tube > lobes.
Recognition
Veronica stricta var. lata plants are characteristically low-growing and compact, spreading shrubs with usually glabrous or sometimes sparsely bifariously puberulent stems and firm, sub-coriaceous to coriaceous leaves. V. stricta var. egmontiana plants are distinguished by their narrower leaves, which are glabrous along the margins, although they may have short hairs just in from the margins.
Coastal forms of V. stricta (sometimes treated as var. macroura or under a broad concept of var. stricta) can have rather thick leaves of similar size and shape to leaves of var. lata, but these plants are diploid (2n = 40). They usually have hairs on the outer faces of the calyx lobes and shorter corolla tubes (1.5–3.5 mm long).
Distribution
North Island: Gisborne, Volcanic Plateau, southern North Island (Raukūmara Range, Kaimanawa Mountains, Huiarau Range, Maungaharuru Range, and Kaweka Range).
Habitat
Tussock grassland, low shrub, and open rocky sites above tree line. Recorded elevations range from 457 to 1525 m.
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Phenology
Flowers: January–March; fruits: March, persisting all year?
Cytology
2n = 80 (see Bayly & Kellow 2006, as Hebe stricta var. lata).
Notes
The name koromiko is probably also applied to this variety, but no specific names have been recorded.
Images
Bibliography
Bayly, M.J.; Kellow, A.V. 2006: An Illustrated Guide to New Zealand Hebes. Te Papa Press, Wellington. [as Hebe stricta var. lata L.B.Moore]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [as Hebe stricta var. lata L.B.Moore] [Not Threatened]
Garnock-Jones, P.J. 2023: Veronica. In: Breitwieser, I. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand – Seed Plants. Fascicle 9. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Garnock-Jones, P.J.; Albach, D.; Briggs, B.G. 2007: Botanical names in Southern Hemisphere Veronica (Plantaginaceae): sect. Detzneria, sect. Hebe, and sect. Labiatoides. Taxon 56: 571–582.
