About Veronica stricta Banks & Sol. ex Benth.
Veronica stricta ( synonym Hebe stricta), commonly known as koromiko, is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae that is endemic to New Zealand. This hebe species grows throughout mainland New Zealand. It has long pale green leaves, and produces tiny white flowers in summer. These flowers grow in dense inflorescences that are longer than the plant's leaves. It is a hardy plant that cannot tolerate shade. It prefers full sun and open habitats, growing on the edges of bush and in wetlands, as it can tolerate wet conditions. Veronica stricta is the species most commonly referred to by the common name koromiko.
Koromiko is widely used in traditional Māori rongoā medicine. Preparations are made by chewing or boiling leaf buds, or the plant material is applied in balms. A sticky substance released by young leaf buds was traditionally mixed with blue pollen from Fuchsia excorticata to make a form of makeup. During the early European colonial period, koromiko leaves or their extract was sold under names like Monk's Herbal Extract as an antidiarrheal remedy. Other traditional uses include lining hāngī pits to add flavour to cooked meat, and using the plant's twigs as fuel for fires to cook moa. Koromiko is a pioneer plant, and is useful as a nurse crop for revegetation planting projects.
