Veronica stricta
| Koromiko | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Veronica |
| Section: | Veronica sect. Hebe |
| Species: | V. stricta
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| Binomial name | |
| Veronica stricta | |
| Synonyms | |
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Of the species:[1]
Of V. stricta var. stricta:[2]
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Veronica stricta, synonym Hebe stricta,[1] commonly called koromiko, is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae, which is endemic to New Zealand.
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
[edit]Varieties
[edit]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
[edit]The plant is typically referred to as koromiko in Māori. Other regional names include kōkoromiko, koromuka, kōkoromuka and korohiko.[3]
Uses
[edit]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]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Veronica stricta Banks & Sol. ex Benth." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Veronica stricta var. stricta". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Vennell, Robert (2019). The Meaning of Trees. Auckland: HarperCollins UK. pp. 32–35. ISBN 978-1-77554-130-1. LCCN 2019403535. OCLC 1088638115. OL 28714658M. Wikidata Q118646408.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of Agriculture.
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