Volume I (1961) - Flora of New Zealand Indigenous Tracheophyta - Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Filicopsida, Gymnospermae, Dicotyledons
Copy a link to this page Cite this record

Coprosma J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

COPROSMA J. R. et G. Forst., 1776

Plants prevailingly dioec., but with several types of sexual expression. Fls solitary or in fascicles or cymes, seated in a cup formed by the partial fusion of 2 stipulate bracts (forming a calyculus). Calyx-teeth 4-5, us. minute, often absent in ♂. Corolla-tube us. narrow-funnelform, sts campanulate, lobes valvate. Stamens us. inserted near base of corolla-tube; filaments filiform; anthers us. far-exserted, ± sagittate, apiculate, pend. Ovary us. 2-loculed; styles us. 2, very slender, sts narrowly clavate in stigmatic region, us. far-exserted. Fr. a succulent ± globose drups with 2-(4) plano-convex pyrenes, us. crowned by withered persistent calyx. Shrubs or trees with simple opp. lvs and interpetiolar stipules us. gland-tipped when young. Over 90 spp., c. 45 in N.Z., c. 20 in Hawaii; a few in Borneo, Java, New Guinea, islands of the Pacific Ocean to Australia, Tasmania. The N.Z. spp. endemic except C. pumila. Type sp. C. lucida.

SYNOPSIS

  • A. Subgenus MICROCOPROSMA. 
    • Fls solitary or in few-fld fascicles, sessile or subsessile, terminal on Ify branchlets or on short arrested branchlets, sts appearing axillary by extreme reduction of branchlets. Lvs small, seldom > 25 mm. long. Prostrate to rambling or erect bushy shrubs. Type sp. c. rotundifolia.
    • Section 1. Pumilae. 
      • Fls solitary, terminal on lfy branchlets. Corolla-lobes short; style-branches 2-4; pyrenes 2-4. Drupes red or pale blue. Branchlets glab.; lvs of ovate order, ± 4-10 mm. long, midrib alone visible. Stipules broadly triangular, subacute, ciliolate. Shrubs with prostrate and rooting stems and branches.
        • Lvs broad, drupes bright red:
        • 1. pumila.
        • Lvs narrow, drupes port-wine red or blue:
        • 2. petriei.
    • Section 2. Acerosae. 
      • Fls solitary, terminal on arrested branchlets. ♂ without calyx: ♀ with corolla-lobes ± = tube. Drupes pale blue or with pale blue flecks. Branchlets pubescent, ± interlacing. Lvs of narrow-linear order, fascicled in pairs on arrested branchlets, midrib alone distinct. Stipules obtuse, ciliolate. Shrubs, prostrate or low-growing, branchlets seldom, rooting.
        • Plants prostate or low-growing-stems and lvs yellowish green:
        • 3. acerosa;
        • stems and lvs dark brownish green:
        • 4. brunnea.
        • Plants erect or spreading-shrub lax, branchlets slender:
        • 5. intertexta;
        • shrub stiff, branchlets stout:
        • 6. rugosa.
    • Section 3. Antipodae. 
      • Fls solitary or few together, terminal on short branchlets. ♂ without calyx, ♀ with corolla-tube ± = lobes. Branchlets pubescent. Lvs of linear to narrow-oblong order, midrib alone evident. Stipules of bluntly ovate order, sheath short. Erect to low-growing shrubs.
        • Lvs membr.;
        • 7. antipoda;
        • lvs coriac;
        • 8. cheesemanii.
    • Section 4. Pseudocuneatae. 
      • Fls solitary, terminal on short branchlets; ♂ without calyx, ♀ with ± tubular corolla. Drupes red. Branchlets finely pubescent. Lvs of obovate- to cuneate-oblong order; midrib and us. principal secondary veins visible. at least below. Stipules of bluntly ovate order, sheath short, Depressed to erect or spreading shrubs.
        • Branches slender, rooting towards base:
        • 9. depressa;
        • branches stouter, not rooting towards base:
        • 10. pseudocuneata.
    • Section 5. Linariifoliae. 
      • ♂ in small fascicles terminating lateral branchlets, calyx 0; ♀ solitary, terminal on lateral branchlets. Drupes white. Branchlets puberulous; lvs of linear to lanceolate order, coriac. Midrib and sts principal secondary veins us. evident. Stipules connate into long sheath with 2 acute tips. Trees or shrubs.
      • 11. linariifolia.
    • Section 6. Parviflorae. 
      • Fls terminal or axillary; ♂ solitary or 2-3 together, with or without a minute calyx; ♀ with long acute lobes to corolla. Drupes variously coloured. Branchlets pubescent (sts glab. in propinqua). Stipules small, pubescent, sts connate into short sheath. Lvs small, of linear to oblong or obovate order. Midrib and sts principal secondary veins evident, or also reticulations visible, at least below. Erect, spreading, or sts prostrate, ± divaricate shrubs.
        • Lamina of linear order, midrib alone evident, drupes white:
        • 12. microcarpa.
        • Lamina broader, principal secondary veins evident (sts reticulations also, at least below) -drupes yellow, lamina-margins densely ciliate:
        • 13. ciliata;
        • drupes white (occ. purplish), lamina-margins glab. or nearly so:
        • 14. parviflora;
        • drupes pale blue, us. with dark blue flecks, lamina-margins glab. or nearly so:
        • 15. propinqua.
    • Section. 7. Cuneatae. 
      • Fls solitary, terminal on arrested often minute branchlets. Drupes small, red or yellowish red. Branchlets pubescent. Lvs narrow-cuneate to narrow-or broad-oblong, retuse (sts minutely so). Midrib alone or also principal secondary veins evident, occ. reticulations also visible at least below. Stipules triangular, acute to cuspidate, minutely to long ciliate. Small spreading shrubs.
        • Fls sessile or subsessile-lamina and stipules entire:
        • 16. cuneata; 17. astonii;
        • lamina very minutely crenulate towards apex, stipules denticulate:
        • 18. crenulata.
        • Fls on distinct down-curved peduncles-lvs narrow-oblong:
        • 19. banksii;
        • lvs broad-oblong:
        • 20 colensoi.
    • Section 8. Foetidae. 
      • Fls solitary, terminal. ♂ without calyx, corolla-lobes (4)-5-7; ♀ with truncate minutely toothed calyx; corolla-lobes 4-5, acute, ciliate. Drupes pale orange, 7-10 mm. long. Branchlets glab; lvs up to ± 5 cm. long, foetid. Stipules acuminate, the subfloral ones denticulate. Bushy shrubs.
      • 21. foetidissima.
    • Section 9. Rigidae. 
      • Fls solitary or sts 2-4 together, terminal on arrested branchlets. ♂ without calyx, ♀ with narrow acute corolla-lobes. Drupes variously coloured. Branchlets pubescent, at least when young. Lvs coriac., small, of obovate to oblong order, glab. or with ciliolate margins. Reticulations us. evident on both surfaces. Stipules triangular, glab. or ciliolate. Divaricating shrubs with ± rigid branchlets.
        • Drupes red:
        • 22. wallii.
        • Drupes yellowish white-lvs coriac.:
        • 23. obconica;
        • lvs thin;
        • 24. rubra.
        • Drupes yellow to orange-lvs with evident venation:
        • 25. rigida;
        • lvs with obscured venation:
        • 26. crassifolia.
    • Section 10. Rotundifoliae. 
      • Fls solitary or up to 2-4-(6) together, terminal on arrested branchlets, or appearing axillary by extreme reduction of branchlets. ♂ without calyx, ♀ with minute calyx-teeth. Drupes red to dark red or almost black. Branchlets slender, pubescent (sts nearly glab. in virescens). Lvs small, of ovate to orbicular order, sts spathulate, plants sts also bearing linear to lanceolate lvs. Stipules free or connate. Erect to depressed ± divaricate shrubs.
        • Drupes yellowish white, stipules distinctly connate, ♂ with corolla-lobes distinctly > tube:
        • 27. virescens.
        • Drupes clear red, stipules distinctly connate, ♂ with corolla-lobes distinctly > tube:
        • 28. rotundifolia.
        • Drupes dark red to dark purple or almost black, stipules free or very shortly connate, ♂ with corolla-lobes ± = tube-Laminae ± uniform in shape on same plant, none of linear or narrow-lanceolate order, erect shrub; lvs glab.:
        • 29. tenuicaulis;
        • lvs ± pubescent, at least below and on margins:
        • 30. areolata.
        • -Laminae diverse in shape on same plant, at least some of linear to narrow-lanceolate order, us. small spreading shrubs; narrow lvs few, subcoriac.:
        • 31. rhamnoides;
        • narrow lvs many, membr.:
        • 32. ploymorpha.
    • Section 11. Spathulatae. 
      • Fls terminal on branches or branchlets. ♂ with evident calyx, lobes long. ♀ with distinct calyx-lobes, corolla-lobes > tube. Drupes red to black or white. Branchlets pubescent, lvs of suborbicular order, spathulate by broadly winged petioles. Stipules short, obtuse, ± cuspidate. Reticulations evident on one or both surfaces. Shrubs or trees, ± fastigiate.
        • Fls solitary or few together, drupes dark orange to nearly black:
        • 33. spathulata.
        • ♂ in dense clusters, ♀ in few-fld clusters, drupes white:
        • 34. arborea.
  • B. Subgenus SERRULA. 
    • Fls axillary, appearing sessile or subsessile by reduction of peduncles. ♂ several together, calyx 0, corolla 4-5-lobed. ♀ solitary or few together, calyx-teeth minute, corolla 3-5-lobed. Drupes red. Branchlets glab. Lvs of rotund to broad-obovate order, reticulations evident at least below; margins cartilaginous, regularly minutely crenulate-serrulate. Stipules large, denticulate. Depressed to low-growing shrubs with stout branches and white flaking bark. Type sp. C. serrulata.
    • 35. serrulata.
  • C. Subgenus COPROSMA. 
    • Fls clustered on axillary simple or branched peduncles, clusters us. many-fld. Drupes of orange to red colour. Shrubs, us. tall, or small trees. Lvs large. Type sp. C. lucida.
    • Section 1. Australes. 
      • Fls clustered on axillary simple to trichotomously branched peduncles. Calyx and corolla 4-5-toothed (calyx absent in ♂ of tenuifolia). ♂ with acute calyx- and corolla-lobes. ♀ with corolla-lobes < tube. Drupes orange to dark orange-red. Branchlets glab. Lvs large, reticulations us. evident on both surfaces. Stipules sheathing, acuminate. Erect to spreading trees or shrubs.
        • Lvs membr. or thinly coriac.-peduncles simple, slender:
        • 36. tenuifolia;
        • peduncles branched, slender:
        • 37. acutifolia;
        • peduncels branched, stout:
        • 38. australis.
        • Lvs coriac., thick-drupes not > c. 9 mm. long:
        • 39. robusta;
        • drupes (10)-15-25 mm. long:
        • 40. macrocarpa.
    • Section 2. Petiolatae. 
      • Fls with long corolla-tube. ♂ in clusters on branches of peduncles, calyx minute (absent in chathamica). ♀ in few-fld clusters on very short branches of peduncles, occ. solitary. Drupes orange- to yellowish-red. Branchlets densely to sparsely pubescent or glab. Lvs large, coriac., glossy, of broad-oblong order. Reticulations evident, at least below. Stipules acute, pubescent or glab. Trees or shrubs, us. coastal.
        • Petioles and branchlets shout, pubescent; stipules cuspidate, densely long-ciliate:
        • 41. chathamica.
        • petioles and branchlets slender, pubescent; stipules acute, pubescent:
        • 42. petiolata. Petioles and branchlets stout, gla b. or nearly so; stipules glab., acu te, den ticulate:
    • Section 3. Lucidae. 
      • Fls with short corolla-tube. ♂ in dense clusters on simple or trichotomously branched peduncles; calyx-lobes short, obtuse, corolla-lobes acute, ± = tube. ♀in 3-4-fld clusters on short trichotomously branched peduncles; calyx-lobes 4-6 acute. Drupes orange-red. Branchlets glab. Lvs large, of obovate to obovate-oblong order; stipules triangular, short. Shrubs or trees.
        • Lvs thick, calyx-teeth minute:
        • 44 lucida.
        • Lvs thin, calyx-teeth conspicuous:
        • 45. dodonaeifolia.

Key

1
Plant prostrate or depressed or sprawling
2
Plant erect or spreading
14
2
Laminae, all or most, at least 50 × 25 mm.; reticulations conspicuous
3
Laminae, all or most, at most 20 × 5 mm.; reticulations us. obscure, at least above
4
3
Lamina-margins serrulate-crenulate; upper surface subrugulose
Lamina-margins entire; upper surface smooth, glossy
4.
Lamina of linear to narrow-lanceolate or narrow-oblong order
5
Laminae not of the above order
7
5
Drupes orange-red (some forms of C. ploymorpha may key to here )
Drupes pale blue
6
6
Bark and lvs yellowish green; branchlets (except at tips) and stipules glab.
Bark and lvs dark brownish green; branchlets and stipules pubescent
7.
Lamina-margins towards apex irregularly minutely crenulate
Lamina-margins entire
8
8
Midrib and reticulations evident on both surfaces
9
Midrib alone evident, or a few secondary veins visible
10
9
Margins and surface of lamina distinctly hairy
Margins and surface of lamina glab. or very nearly so
10
Branchlets glab.
Branchlets pubescent
11
11
Lamina-apex obtuse to truncate to retuse or emarginate
12
Lamina-apex acute to subacute
13
12
Lamina-apex obtusely rounded, laminae of ovate to obovate order, 5-9 × 1·5-5 mm.
Lamina-apex truncate to retuse, laminae of narrow-cuneate order, 9-16 × 2-3·5 mm.
13.
Laminae (3)-5-(10) mm. long; drupes purple or blue
Laminae 8-11 mm. long; drupes orange-red
14
Laminae finely serrulate-crenulate on margins, 40-70 × 25-40 mm.
Laminae entire, not of the above proportions
15
15
Lvs very foetid when bruised
Lvs not foetid when bruised
16
16
Laminae broad-ovate to elliptic to narrow-ovate to lanceolate to linear on same plant
Laminae without the above diversity on the same plant
17
17
Stipules connate into long sheath with 2 acute points; laminae of linear to linear-lanceolate order; tree with a definite trunk
Stipules, laminae, habit not as above in combination
18
18.
Laminae very glossy above
19
Lamina not or very slightly glossy above
23
19
Lamina c. 10-20 mm. long, orbicular to broadly oblong-spathulate; drupes 6-8 mm. long
Laminae not < 35 mm. long, not orbicular, if broadly oblong then not spathulate; drupes us. larger
20
20
Laminae, all or most, not > c. 80 mm. long
21
Laminae, all or most, not < c. 120 mm. long
22
21
Laminae ± 60-80 × 40-50 mm.
Laminae ± 35-75 × 20-35 mm
22
Laminae rather thin, ± 130-200 × 70-100 mm.
Laminae thick, ± 120-170 × 30-40 mm.
23
Laminae, all or most, not < 50 × 25 mm.
24
Laminae, all or most, not > 30 × 15 mm.
33
24
Branchlets distinctly pubescent
25
Branchlets glab. or nearly so
27
25
Laminae spathulate, petioles widely winged in upper part; drupes white
Laminae not spathulate, petioles not or narrowly winged in upper part; drupes not white
26
26
Laminae ovate to ovate-oblong; ♀ with corolla-lobes > tube; drupes obvoid (plant of Chatham Is)
Lamina elliptic-oblong to obovate; ♀ with corolla-lobes < tube; drupes ovoid (plant of Kermadec Is)
27
Laminae thick, distinctly coriac.
28
Laminae rather thin, submembr
30
28
Laminae broad- to narrow-obovate to obovate-oblong; stipules acute
Laminae not obovate, of elliptic to ovate or ovate-oblong order; stipules acuminate
29
29
Lamina-width ± 35-42 mm.; drupes dark orange to yellow, 8-9 mm. long
Lamina-width ± 40-80 mm.; drupes orange-red, 10-25 mm. long
30
Laminae .130-200 × 70-100 mm.; peduncles stout, 30-60 mm. long
Laminae not reaching the above dimension; peduncles rather slender, not > 20 mm. long
31
31
Laminae narrow-obovate to obovate c. 105-120 × 28-35 mm.
Laminae ovate to lanceolate, not > c. 106 × 30-40 mm.
32
32.
Laminae ± 70-106 × 30-45 mm., àcute; peduncles simple; drupes ovoid, orange
Laminae ± 60-75 × 20-(35) mm., acuminate; peduncles branched; drupes oblong, orange-red,
33
Laminae of linear to lanceolate or narrow-oblong or narrow-elliptic or narrow-obovate order
34
Laminae not as above, broader in proportion to length
47
34
Reticulations evident above or below or on both surfaces
35
Reticulations not visible or very obscure
37
35
Laminae (7)-10-14-(16) × 2-3-(5) mm., apex obtuse to subacute; drupes pale blue ± flecked dark blue
Laminae not as above, apex retuse to truncate; drupes red
36
36
Laminae (8)-10-16 × 1-2-3 mm., narrowly cuneate
Laminae (10)-15-20-(30) × 2-3-4 mm., obliquely linear-oblong
37
Lamina-apex acute to subacute
38
Lamina-apex obtuse to truncate or retuse or emarginate
42
38
Stipules acute to subacute, drupes white
Stipules retuse to truncate or obtuse, drupes not white
39
39
Laminae linear to narrow-oblong, thin, 10-13 × 1-2 mm.; midrib alone evident
Laminae not having all the above characters in common
40
40
Laminae very thick, ± rigid; cilia of stipules long; drupes red
Laminae less thick, not rigid; cilia of stipules short; drupes blue or flecked blue
41
41
Laminae 6-10 × 1 mm., branchlets very slender
Laminae (7)-10-14-(16) × 2-3-(5) mm., branchlets stouter
42
Stipules obtuse
43
Stipules acute
44
43
Laminae 2-3-(5) mm. wide, plant spreading
Laminae not > c. 1mm. wide, plant erect
44
Laminae ± 6 × 2 mm., obovate-oblong; drupes yellowish white
Laminae not of the above size, of cuneate order; drupes red
45
45
Laminae (10)-15-20-(30) mm. long
Laminae 6-16 mm. long
46
46
Laminae 9-16 × 2-3·5 mm
Laminae 6-8-16 × 0·5-2-(3) mm.
47
Laminae glaucous or whitish below, suborbicular to broad-oblong, ± 7-15 × 5-10 mm
Laminae may be paler below, but not whitish, not glaucous; shape and dimensions otherwise
48
48
Midrib and sts principal secondary veins evident to obscure; reticulations hidden or obscure
49
Midrib and principal secondary veins evident; reticulations clearly visible on one or both surfaces
58
49
Laminae and stipules rather densely hairy and ciliate
Laminae and stipules glab. or nearly so
50
50
Laminae somewhat glossy, orbicular to broad-oblong, spathulately narrowed into petiole, c. 10-20 × 9-19 mm.
Laminae without the above characters in combination
51
51
Fls and frs on decurved peduncles
52
Fls and frs sessile or peduncles erect
53
52
Laminae obliquely narrow-oblong
Laminae oblong to broad-oblong to obovate to elliptic
53
Drupes pale blue with darker flecks
Drupes not so coloured
54
54
Laminae cuneately narrowed to base
55
Laminae not cuneately narrowed to base
56
55
Drupes red; laminae (5)-15-20 × (1·5) -2-4-(6) mm, oblong to narrow-obovate, gradually cuneately narrowed to base
Drupes white; laminae (5)-7-12 × 2-6 mm., rather suddenly cuneately narrowed to base
56
Laminae ovate
Laminae obovate to oblong
57
57
Laminae ± 6 × 2 mm
Laminae ± 10-20 × 3-9 mm.
58
Venation obscure above, evident below
59
Venation evident on both surfaces
61
59
Laminae at least c. 35 mm. long, petioles 5-16 mm. long
Laminae at most c. 20 mm. long, petioles short
60
60
Laminae ± 7-9 × 6 mm., very coriac.; drupes didymous, c. 3 × 4·5 mm.
Laminae ± 8-12 × 6-14 mm., thinly coriac., to membr., drupes depressed-globose, c. 4 mm. diam.
61
Laminae thin
62
Laminae thick
64
62
Laminae 9-11 × 7-10 mm., yellowish green; areolations very conspicuous
Laminae 14-20 × 10-15-20 mm., brownish green; areolations rather less conspicuous
63
63
Laminae 10-14-(18) × 6-12-13 mm; ♀ with linear evident calyx-teeth; drupes yellowish white, oblong, c. 5-6 mm. long
Laminae (15)-20-25 × (10)-14-20 mm.; ♀ with minute calyx-teeth; drupes red or white, globose-depressed, c. 4mm. diam.
64
Laminae spathulately narrowed into petiole
65
Laminae not spathulately narrowed into petiole
67
65
Laminae (12-20)-40-60 × (10) -25-27 mm.; drupes white, oblong, c. 7 mm. long
Laminae not > 15 × 10 mm.; drupes not > 6 mm. long, yellowish white or very dark
66
66
Laminae ± 5-9 × 3-6 mm. branchlets glab. or nearly so; drupes yellowish white, oblong, 5-6 mm. long
Laminae ± 8-13 × 9-10 mm.; branchlets distinctly pubescent; drupes very dark, globose, 3-4 mm. diam.
67
Laminae broad-ovate, (5)-7-12 × 2-6 mm.; drupes white or scarlet or dark purple, ± 5 mm. diam.
Laminae of oblong to elliptic or obovate order, (7)-10-16 × 2-5 mm.; drupes blue or red, c. 6-7 mm. diam. or long
68
68
Drupes globose, pale blue with darker blue flecks
Drupes broad-oblong, red

Although flowering is us. in the spring months and fruit-ripening in autumn, there is considerable diversity in the range for any sp. and any individual; "out of season" flowering is also occ.

Hooker (Fl. N.Z. 1, 1853, 103) remarks of the spp. recognized by him: " they are so variable, that I quite despair of reducing them to anything like proper order; they are most frequently dioecious, and the inconspicuous green flowers in many cases afford but indifferent characters; the berries vary extremely in size according to situation and moisture, as do the leaves in size and form, and the plant in habit." Of Cunningham's spp. he remarks: " his descriptions are insufficient and inaccurate, and the species in his herbarium have been mixed by himself, and do not tally well with his own descriptions." He divides the spp. into 4 sections. Cheeseman (T.N.Z.I 19, 1887, 218-252) monographed the genus, adopted Hooker's groupings and made further subdivisions. He remarks: " Next to Veronica the genus Coprosma is the most puzzling in the New Zealand Flora." Kirk (Stud. Fl. 1899, 229-230) mainly followed Cheesman's arrangement, which was further revised by Cheeseman (Man. N.Z. Fl. 1925, 856-858).

Oliver (Bull. Bishop Mus., Honolulu 132, 1935, 18-22) does not differ greatly from Cheeseman, except that he subdivides his sections into a number of small groups. He however, almost completely reverses the order of the descriptions on phylogenetic grounds. I follow, in large part. Oliver's order(for convenience of reference, not from any convictions concerning phylogenetic development.

Click to go back to the top of the page
Top