Veronica bishopiana, the Waitākere rock koromiko, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to West Auckland in New Zealand, and was first described by Donald Petrie in 1926.[1]
Veronica bishopiana is a low spreading shrub that grows up to one metre tall. While similar to Veronica obtusata in appearance, Veronica bishopiana tends to be larger, and has distinctive maroon-green leaves.[2] The shrub has white and mauve-coloured flowers, with the mauve colour often only evident in the youngest buds of the plant.[2]
It was named by Donald Petrie in 1926, first described as a hybrid, Veronica × bishopiana. It was transferred the genus Hebe in 1966 by ED Hatch,[2] but has since been reclassified again as a species of veronica.[3]
The species was named for Titirangi resident John Joseph Bishop, who first recognised Veronica bishopiana as a distinct species and cultivated it at his home, providing plant material for Petrie to study.[2]
Veronica bishopiana is naturally distributed in the Waitakere Ecological District of the Waitākere Ranges of West Auckland.[2] It typically occurs on stream sides, igneous rock outcrops and shaded cliff faces.[2] Since 2007, specimens have also been found in the Tangihua Forest in Northland Region.[4][5]
Veronica bishopiana, the Waitākere rock koromiko, is a flowering plant belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. It is native to West Auckland in New Zealand, and was first described by Donald Petrie in 1926.
