Phil Bendle Collection:Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii (Koromiko)

Kingdom:   Plantae
(Unranked):        Angiosperms
(Unranked):        Eudicots
(Unranked):        Asterids
Order:       Lamiales
Family:      Plantaginaceae
Genus:      Hebe
Species:     H. stricta
Varieties: There are two varieties of this species: Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii and Hebe stricta var. macroura
Binomial name: Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii
Synonyms:    Hebe parkinsoniana, Hebe salicifolia var. angustissima, Hebe salicifolia var. atkinsonii, Hebe salicifolia var. stricta, Veronica parkinsoniana, Veronica salicifolia var. angustissima, Veronica salicifolia var. atkinsonii, Veronica salicifolia var. stricta, Veronica stricta.
Common name: Koromiko

Hebe stricta var. atkinsonii is a shrub (1-2 m tall) growing in the North Island from the Manawatu Gorge south to Wellington and in the South Island from the Marlborough Sounds south to about Rarangi near Blenheim. It grows in coastal areas to lower montane habitats.
The narrow leaves are dull yellow green with a margin that is usually entire but it can be occasionally toothed.
The long sweetly scented inflorescences which appear usually July to October can be lilac, mauve or white in colour. Flowering can also occur sporadically throughout the year.

Hebe stricta var. stricta it differs from Hebe var. atkinsonii by the calyx-lobes, bracts and usually capsules, being finely pubescent, with the racemes (and capsules) usually drooping.

Photographed February Ships Cove, Marlborough Sounds, South Island.

The underside of a leaf.

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