Five million years ago a Koromiko migrant put down roots in Aotearoa.

The first Koromiko seeds arrived in Aotearoa by air rather than sea around 5 million years ago. Biosecurity systems relied heavily on isolation back in the day.

It will outgrow the pot quickly. It outgrew and spread from its original Aotearoa environment.

Up close with a macro.

Floral racemes launch from the central stem and buds burst into colour.

Pink turns to white.

The flowers have two anthers with a shorter pink stigma. Flowers, initially pink, turn white.

The flowers have two anthers with a shorter pink stigma. Flowers, initially pink, turn white.

Anthers split open and pollen grains spill out. The stigma appears like a tip on a snooker cue.

A Single Seed is all it took.

Aotearoa was originally attached to Gondwanaland. It has drifted in isolation through the latitudes for 80 million years. The Southern Alps popped up over the last 50 million years, driven by a slow-motion collision between the Australian and Pacific plates. The Southern Alps reached their maximum elevation 5 million years ago.

Diversity between Koromiko Species in Aotearoa is greatest in Alpine landscapes. The original visitor probably landed here before looking for other niches to fill.

References

Wagstaff, S.J. and Garnock-Jones, P.J. (1998), Evolution and biogeography of the Hebe complex (Scrophulariaceae) inferred from ITS sequences. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 36: 425-437. https://doi.org/10.1080/0028825X.1998.9512581