Species

Coprosma macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa

Etymology

Coprosma: from the Greek kopros 'dung' and osme 'smell', referring to the foul smell of the species, literally 'dung smell'
macrocarpa: large fruit

Common Name(s)

large-seeded Coprosma

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 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - CD, IE
2009 - IE

Authority

Coprosma macrocarpa Cheeseman subsp. macrocarpa

Family

Rubiaceae

Brief Description

Large shrub with pairs of glossy dark green leaves inhabiting the Three Kings Islands. Leaves large, 9-13cm long, leaf surface bulging. Small papery sheath on stem between the base of the pairs of leaves. Fruit orange, clustered on short stems.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

COPMCM

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Distribution

Endemic. Confined to the Three Kings Islands. A single specimen found on Aorangi Island (Poor Knights) may be a recent introduction from the adjacent mainland, as this plant is now commonly cultivated in northern New Zealand. Naturalised in Auckland and around Wellington cities

Threats

A local endemic, common on but confined to the Three Kings Islands. A single record from the Poor Knights Islands is probably a chance naturalisation from the nearby mainland where it is now commonly cultivated

Chromosome No.

2n = 44

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Fleshy drupes are dispersed by frugivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Where To Buy

Commonly sold by most retail plant nurseries

References and further reading

Thorsen, M. J.; Dickinson, K. J. M.; Seddon, P. J. 2009. Seed dispersal systems in the New Zealand flora. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 11: 285-309

This page last updated on 15 Aug 2014