Veronica stricta
Species of flowering plant in the plantain family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Veronica stricta, synonym Hebe stricta,[1] commonly called koromiko, is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, which is endemic to New Zealand.
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| Koromiko | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Veronica |
| Section: | Veronica sect. Hebe |
| Species: | V. stricta |
| Binomial name | |
| Veronica stricta | |
| Synonyms | |
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Of the species:[1]
Of V. stricta var. stricta:[2]
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Koromiko is a hebe found throughout the Mainland New Zealand, with long pale green leaves and tiny white flowers in summer formed into a dense inflorescence longer than the leaves. It is a hardy plant and does not tolerate shade. It prefers full sun and open habitats on edge of bush and wetlands as it tolerates wet areas.[citation needed]
Veronica stricta is the most commonly referred to plant that is called koromiko.[3]
Taxonomy
Varieties
As of October 2022[update], Plants of the World Online accepted four varieties:[1]
- Veronica stricta var. egmontiana (L.B.Moore) Garn.-Jones – North Island
- Veronica stricta var. lata (L.B.Moore) Garn.-Jones – North Island
- Veronica stricta var. macroura (Hook.f. ex Benth.) Garn.-Jones – North Island
- Veronica stricta var. stricta – North and South Island
Names
Uses
Koromiko is a commonly used plant in traditional Māori rongoā medicine, by chewing or boiling leaf buds, or applied in balms.[3] A sticky substance that is extruded from young leaf buds was traditionally mixed with blue pollen of Fuchsia excorticata for a form of make-up.[3] During the early European colonial era, koromiko leaves or extract was sold under names such as Monk's Herbal Extract as an antidiarrheal remedy.[3]
Other traditional uses included lining hāngī to impart a flavour to cooked meat, and using the twigs for fires to cook moa.[3]
Koromiko is a pioneer plant useful to plant as a nurse crop for revegetation planting.[citation needed]
