The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Coprosma grandifolia

Etymology

Coprosma: from the Greek kopros 'dung' and osme 'smell', referring to the foul smell of the species, literally 'dung smell'
grandifolia: big leaved

Common Name(s)

kanono, manono, large-leaved coprosma, raurekau

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

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 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Coprosma grandifolia Hook.f.

Family

Rubiaceae

Brief Description

Large shrub with pairs of thin wavy, mottled leaves. Leaves to 20cm long, oval, pointed, with small pits at junction of veins. Sharp dark point on stem between pairs of leaves. Fruit prange to red, on obvious stalks in open clusters.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

COPGRA

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Coprosma australis (Richard) Robinson, Ronabea australis Richard, Coprosma autumnalis Colenso

Distribution

Endemic. North to South Islands. In the South Island extending to Lake Ianthe in the west and the Marlborough Sounds in the east.

Habitat

Common in the understorey of forest, and in sheltered shady sites from the coast to montane and cloud forest. In areas of high rainfall can be a major component of shrublands, and within regenerating forest. Often common along the margins of logging tracks and roads.

Features

Shrub or small tree up to c. 6 m tall; plants much branched from base or with single trunk; branches and branchlets glabrous, smooth, under bark green. Interpetiolar stipules conspicuous, broadly deltoid, then tapering, apex with 2 porminent darkly pigmented denticles, glabrous. Leaves on smooth glabrous petioles 20-30 mm long; Lamina (100-)150-300 × (50-)70-100 mm, broadly elliptic to obovate, apex subacute or apiculate, base gradually narrowed to petiole; membranous to sub-coriaceous, adaxially dull glossy green or green mottled with maroon or purple, abaxially paler, margins flat or weakly undulose waved, rarely finely crenulate; venation prominent, reticulations conspicuous on both leaf surfaces, fine and close-set. Flowers in clusters on trichotomously branched peduncles up to 80 m. long. Male flowers with 4-5-toothed cupular calyx; corolla narrow-funnelform, lobes usually 5, acute, < tube; stamens us. 5. Female flowers usually with small stipulate bracts at axils of branches; calyx-teeth 5, small, acute; corolla tubular, lobes 5, narrow-triangular, acute, ± the same length as tube. Drupe reddish orange, oblong, 7-9 mm. long

Similar Taxa

Easily distinguished by the very large, broad, yellow-green leaves which are variously mottled with dark green or purple, and have prominent leaf "drip-tips", and by the very large, entirely glandular leaf stipules - seen otherwise only in the very different looking C. waima. It also differs from all of the other similar large-leaved species by its usually autumnal flowering pattern.

Flowering

(March-) April (-June) but may also occasionally flower in September.

Flower Colours

Green,White

Fruiting

(September-) October-January (-April)

Propagation Technique

Very easy from fresh seed. Also easy from semi-hardwood cuttings. Prefers a shaded site in damp soil but will tolerate most garden situations.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 44

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 3 Jul 2019