Coprosma dumosa
Synonyms
Coprosma parviflora var. dumosa Cheeseman; Coprosma tayloriae A.P.Druce ex G.T.Jane
Family
Rubiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
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.
COPDMO
Chromosome number
2n = 132
Current conservation status
The threat classification status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) – more information about this can be found on the NZTCS website This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – a suggested threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | Not Threatened
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | Not Threatened
2009 | Not Threatened
2004 | Not Threatened
Brief description
A bushy, small-leaved shrub with ‘layered’ branches; mostly common in higher rainfall montane forests and shrublands from the Kaimai Range southwards to Stewart Island.” Also in the drier South Island. Leaves small, elliptic, 4-6mm long, in clusters of pairs, thick, with 1-2 pits on underside, main vein on underside reaching the leaf tip, with tiny hairs on margin in wet areas. Fruit orange or red (mostly white/transluscent in North Island).
Distribution
Endemic. North Island from Kaimai Range south; South Island (rare in Fiordland), Stewart Island.
Wetland plant indicator status rating
Information derived from the revised national wetland plant list prepared to assist councils in delineating and monitoring wetlands (Clarkson et al., 2021 Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Contract Report LC3975 for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council). The national plant list categorises plants by the extent to which they are found in wetlands and not ‘drylands’. The indicator status ratings are OBL (obligate wetland), FACW (facultative wetland), FAC (facultative), FACU (facultative upland), and UPL (obligate upland).
FAC: Facultative
Commonly occurs as either a hydrophyte or non-hydrophyte (non-wetlands).
Similar taxa
Most likely to be confused with Coprosma parviflora Hook.f. which differs by the undersides of leaves being distinctly hairy (glabrous to glabrescent in C. dumosa), violet black fruits (white, pink or yellow in C. dumosa), and different chromosome number (2n = 132 in C. parviflora, 2n = 88 in C. dumosa). Furthermore, C. parviflora is confined to the northern North Island.
Flowering
October - November (-January)
Fruiting
February-April (-October)
Life cycle
Fleshy drupes are dispersed by frugivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).
Propagation technique
Easy from fresh seed, and semi-hardwood cuttings. In warmer climates does best in a shaded site or planted within a deep, moist soil.
Etymology
coprosma: From the Greek kopros ‘dung’ and osme ‘smell’, referring to the foul smell of the species, literally ‘dung smell’
dumosa: Bushy or shrubby
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