The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Coprosma spathulata subsp. hikuruana

Etymology

Coprosma: from the Greek kopros 'dung' and osme 'smell', referring to the foul smell of the species, literally 'dung smell'
spathulata: shaped like a flattened spoon (leaves)

Common Name(s)

None Known

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Qualifiers

2012 - OL
2009 - CD, HI, OL

Authority

Coprosma spathulata subsp. hikuruana de Lange et Heenan

Family

Rubiaceae

Brief Description

Low-growing sprawling shrub with long flexible twigs bearing pairs of small round leaves with a narrow long (to 23mm long) dark leaf stalk inhabiting the northern tip of the North Island. Fruit dark violet.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

COPSSH

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

None

Distribution

Endemic. North Island, where it is known only from the 120 ha exposure of ultramafic rocks at the North Cape Scientific Reserve, Surville Cliffs.

Habitat

Coastal cliffs. Restricted to ultramafic Rock and soils in shaded sites, under rock overhangs and creeping beneath low scrub.

Features

Prostrate, evergreen, dioecious trailing shrub producing numerous spreading, long-trailing branches up to 10 m long; these sometimes rooting at leaf nodes. Main stem usually solitary, prostrate; branches sparse to numerous, leafy. Leaves opposite, spathulate; petioles up to 23 mm, stout, winged; lamina 6-15 x 8-15 mm, dull red-brown, mottled dark green, yellow or white with darker veins, flat, spreading, orbicular to broad oblong, coriaceous, apex retuse to emarginate sometimes obcordate; domatia 2-6 or absent. Stipules 0.8-0.9 mm, narrowly triangular, pubescent with a single dark central denticle. Flowers axillary, solitary or paired, in axils of uppermost leaves. Male flowers maroon or green streaked maroon. Corolla 5-6 mm; tube 1.5-2 mm, elliptic; lobes 3-4, lanceolate to ovate-elliptic. Stamens 2-4. Female flowers similar, with smaller obovoid corolla, lobes 2-4, linear-lanceolate. Stigmas 2. Drupes ellipsoid, 5-9 x 2-4.5 mm, dull violet-black.

Similar Taxa

Coprosma spathulata subsp. hikuruana is very close to C. spathulata subsp. spathulata. However that subspecies is an upright shrub of forested habitats whose fruits are globose, dull black, orange or red. It has never been found growing on ultramafic rocks. On the Surville Cliffs C. spathulata subsp. hikuruana could be confused with Coprosma neglecta , but that species never has long trailing stems up to 10 m long, nor spathulate leaves, and it always has globose red fruits.

Flowering

July - October

Flower Colours

Green,Red / Pink

Fruiting

January

Propagation Technique

Although it can be grown from seed, semi-hardwood cuttings or layered pieces it is very slow, and fruits produced by cultivated plants may be of hybrid origin, as male and female plants are rarely grown together.

Threats

Threatened by the small numbers of plants known from the wild (< 200), on going weed invasion of the ultramafic rocks and soils, browsing animals (possums, horses, pigs and cattle), and potentially by fires.

Chromosome No.

2n = 44

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 19 Dec 2014