Willow-leaf hebe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willow-leaf hebe |
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Hebe
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Veronica salicifolia
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| Hebe salicifolia (G. Forst.) Pennell
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The koromiko (Hebe salicifolia), also known as the willow-leaf hebe, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. You can find this plant growing naturally across the South Island of New Zealand and in Chile.
The koromiko is a large, evergreen shrub. This means it stays green all year round. It can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Its leaves are light green and shaped like spears, growing up to 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. The flowers are usually white or a pale purple color.
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What is Koromiko?
The koromiko plant often looks like a willow tree because its branches droop downwards. This is why it's sometimes called the New Zealand Willow. Unlike most other Hebe plants, its seed pods hang down. These pods release their seeds by simply dropping them when they are ready.
How to Spot a Koromiko
H. salicifolia is one of the bigger Hebe species. It has a woody stem structure that helps it grow quite tall, usually between one and five meters. It can also spread out quite wide. Its leaves are narrow and oblong, meaning they are longer than they are wide. They are arranged opposite each other on the stem. The leaves are dark to yellowish-green and have tiny hairs along their middle vein.
This plant is a perennial, which means it lives for more than two years. It flowers in the summer and autumn. You'll see many white or violet flowers grouped together on stems that can be up to 24 centimeters (about 9.5 inches) long. The koromiko is also one of the few Hebe plants that has a strong, pleasant smell. Its flowers also produce a lot of sweet nectar.
Some other features that help tell it apart from other Hebes include its unique leaf buds and the shape and color of its reproductive parts. For example, the parts that produce pollen (called stamens) are short, and the pollen sacs (anthers) are violet.
Where Does Koromiko Grow?
You can find Hebe salicifolia in Chile, the South Island of New Zealand, and also on Stewart Island and the Auckland Islands. It has also started growing naturally in parts of Europe. This plant can live in many different environments. It grows from areas near the coast all the way up to alpine regions. It has been found at heights of up to 2800 meters (about 9,200 feet) above sea level. This is considered the highest place a flowering plant grows in New Zealand.
Koromiko's Animal Visitors
The flowers of H. salicifolia attract many different kinds of insects. Beetles and flies, especially hoverflies, mostly collect pollen from the flowers. Bees visit the flowers for both pollen and nectar. Other insects like tachinid flies and butterflies mainly collect nectar. In lower areas, small native solitary bees and flies are common visitors.
Studies have shown that New Zealand's native butterflies feed on the nectar of Veronica species, which includes koromiko. In lab tests, H. salicifolia flowers helped female butterflies become stronger and lay more eggs.
The Australasian green shield bug often lays its eggs on many native and introduced trees and shrubs, including koromiko. Both adult and young shield bugs feed by inserting a special mouthpart into the plant. They then suck out the plant's sap and juices from its berries.
Like many plants, koromiko can sometimes get diseases. Leaf spot and downy mildew might appear if the plant is not growing in good conditions.
Koromiko in Māori Culture
Long before the English arrived, the Māori had been using the koromiko plant for its healing properties for hundreds of years. They would chew the leaves to help with upset stomachs and diarrhea. They also put the leaves on their skin to help heal ulcers and wounds.
Koromiko is the general name for Hebe plants in the Māori language. This name is used for many different New Zealand Hebe species. Examples include the Shore Koromiko (Hebe elliptica) and the Varnished Koromiko (Hebe vernicosa).
Growing Your Own Koromiko
Hebe salicifolia is a tough plant, but it doesn't like shade. It needs to be grown in full sunlight and in a protected spot. The soil should drain water well. However, it can handle wet areas and is often found at the edge of forests and wetlands.
Once the plant is established, it can handle dry periods quite well. It has also been found to tolerate freezing temperatures. In one test, 50% of the leaves were damaged at -0.6°C (about 30.9°F). The koromiko has closed leaf buds that can protect the delicate growing tip from frost. These buds only open when they are fully grown.
