Coprosma macrocarpa subsp. macrocarpa
Common names
large-seeded coprosma
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.
COPMCM
Chromosome number
2n = 44
Current conservation status
The conservation 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.
Please note, threat classifications are often suggested by authors when publications fall between NZTCS assessment periods – an interim threat classification status has not been assessed by the NZTCS panel.
- Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 . 2018. 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. Department of Conservation. Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2017 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: CD, IE
Previous conservation statuses
2012 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: CD, IE
2009 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: IE
2004 | Range Restricted
Simplified 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.
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
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Life cycle
Fleshy drupes are dispersed by frugivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).
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
Etymology
coprosma: From the Greek kopros ‘dung’ and osme ‘smell’, referring to the foul smell of the species, literally ‘dung smell’
macrocarpa: Large fruit
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