Hebe stricta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Koromiko
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Genus:	Hebe
Species:	H. stricta
Binomial name
Hebe stricta (Banks & Sol. ex Benth.) L.B.Moore

Hebe stricta, commonly called koromiko, is a beautiful flowering plant that grows only in New Zealand. This means it's endemic to New Zealand, so you won't find it growing naturally anywhere else in the world! It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family, which includes plants like plantains. Recently, its scientific name changed to Veronica stricta.

About Koromiko

You can find Koromiko all over the main islands of New Zealand. It has long, pale green leaves and tiny white flowers. These flowers grow in a tight bunch, called an inflorescence, which is usually longer than the leaves themselves. You'll see these pretty white flowers blooming in the summer.

Where Koromiko Grows

The Koromiko plant is very tough and doesn't like shady spots. It needs lots of sunshine to grow well! You'll often find it in open areas, like at the edge of a forest or near wetlands. It's quite happy in wet places, so it often grows where the ground is a bit damp.

Koromiko Varieties

There are two main types, or varieties, of this Koromiko plant:

• Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii
• Hebe stricta var. macroura

How Koromiko is Used

Koromiko is a very useful plant!

• Traditional Medicine: The young leaves and new shoots of Koromiko have been used in traditional Māori medicine for a long time. People would eat them to help with stomach problems like diarrhoea and dysentery.
• Helping New Plants Grow: Koromiko is also known as a pioneer plant. This means it's one of the first plants to grow in an area that might have been damaged or cleared. It's really good at helping other plants grow too! People often plant Koromiko first when they want to bring back native plants to an area. It acts like a "nurse crop," protecting younger, more delicate plants as they start to grow.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of Agriculture.