Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Gentianales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl
Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Coprosma J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Coprosma rubra Petrie, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 17: 269 (1884 [1885])
Synonymy:
  • = Coprosma pendula Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 21: 84 (1888 [1889])
  • ≡ Coprosma rubra var. pendula (Colenso) Kirk, Stud. Fl. New Zealand 240 (1899)
 Description

Shrub up to 2–(4) m. tall; branches rather slender, ± divaricate, bark reddish brown; branchlets finely pubescent. Lvs membr., on ± pubescent and ciliolate winged petioles 4–6 mm. long. Stipules small, triangular, pubescent, us. terminated by denticle. Lamina glab. or nearly so, broad-ovate to oblong, obtuse, sts mucronulate, narrowed to subtruncate base; 10–15–(25) × (6)–10–12–(15) mm.; margins sts ciliolate. Reticulations us. evident on both surfaces, at least when lf fresh. ♂ 6–1 on short branchlets; calyx 0; corolla funnelform, lobes = tube, ovate, acute. ♀ solitary or 2–3 together on short branchlets; calyx-teeth linear-triangular, obtuse, c. 3/4 length of corolla-tube, which has narrow-linear lobes > tube. Drupe yellowish white, oblong, 4–6 mm. long.

[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1889: A description of some newly-discovered Phænogamic plants; being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 21: 80–108.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Hitchmough, R.; Townsend, A.J. 2009: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 61–96. [Data deficient]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Kirk,T. 1899: The Students' Flora of New Zealand and the Outlying Islands. Government Printer, Wellington, N.Z.
Petrie, D. 1885: Description of new species of native plants. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 17: 269–271.