Coprosma repens
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Mirror bush leaves (3393949807).jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Coprosma
| species = repens
| authority = A.Rich.
| synonyms =
Coprosma baueriana Hook. f.
Coprosma baueri auct. non Endl.
Coprosma retusa Hook. f
Coprosma stockii Williams
| status = NT
| status_system = NZTCS
| status_ref = {{Cite web |title=NZTCS |url=https://nztcs.org.nz/assessments/113093 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=nztcs.org.nz}}
}}
Coprosma repens is a species of flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Coprosma, in the family Rubiaceae, native to New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/|title=WCSP |work= World Checklist of Selected Plant Families|access-date=8 June 2019}} Common names include taupata, tree bedstraw,{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }} mirror bush, looking-glass bush, New Zealand laurel and shiny leaf.{{cite web|title=Weed Identification - Looking glass bush|publisher=Australian Weeds Committee|work=Weeds Australia|url=http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=E30|access-date=2012-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420005340/http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=plant.tpl&ibra=all&card=E30|archive-date=2012-04-20|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Coprosma~repens |title=Coprosma repens A.Rich.|access-date=2009-04-26 |work= PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia}}{{cite web|title=Shiny Leaf - Coprosma repens|work=Environmental Weeds of the South East|publisher=Department of Environment and Heritage South Australia|url=http://www.senrm.sa.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DsN9pDdJ24k%3D&tabid=1706&mid=2683|access-date=2009-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523124016/http://www.senrm.sa.gov.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=DsN9pDdJ24k%3d&tabid=1706&mid=2683|archive-date=2009-05-23|url-status=dead}}
Description
The habit of this species varies markedly with its situation. In exposed situations, such as cliffs, it assumes a prostrate habit, while in more sheltered areas it can grow as a small tree up to 8 metres in height.{{cite web |url=http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Taxon.aspx?id=_3f21850b-8f3f-4723-ae60-56cbb420ec3a&fileName=Flora%201.xml#_3f21850b-8f3f-4723-ae60-56cbb420ec3a |title=Coprosma repens|work=Flora of New Zealand Series|publisher=Landcare Research|access-date=2009-04-26}} It has thick and very glossy leaves which vary considerably in size, depending on exposure to the elements. The leaf margins are recurved, occasionally to the extent that the leaf may be cylindrical in cross-section. The shiny leaves aid its survival near coastal locations.
C. repens is dioecious. Flowers are produced in spring and summer, with the male flowers appearing in dense, compound clusters, and the female flowers in smaller clusters. Male flowers have a funnel shaped corolla that is 5 mm long, with lobes equal to the tube. Female flowers have a short calyx, and a tubular corolla 3 mm long, with lobes shorter than the tube. Female plants produce orange-red ovoid drupes, which are about 8 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length.
Distribution
The species is native to the North Island, South Island, Kermadec Islands and Three Kings Islands in New Zealand.
In Australia, it has become naturalised in coastal areas of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, and it is now classified as an environmental weed.
Cultivation
{{multiple image
| align = right | footer = Taupata flowers
| width1 = 105
| image1 = Male_taupata_flower_(Coprosma_repens).jpg
| alt1 = Cluster of cream-coloured anthers on droopy white stalks
| caption1 = Male
| width2 = 110
| image2 = Female_taupata_flower_(Coprosma_repens).jpg
| alt2 = Cluster of translucent purple stalks, curving upward
| caption2 = Female
}}
The species has been popular in coastal gardens due to its resistance to salt spray. Although it prefers well-drained sandy soils, it can cope with heavier soils.
There is a large number of cultivars:
- 'Coffee Cream' - creamy yellow leaf margins
- 'Coppershine' - foliage with a copper-bronze tinge
- 'Evening Glow' - golden foliage which changes to rich orange and pink-red shades during autumn and winter[http://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/Plants/Details/52 Coprosma repens 'Evening Glow']
- 'Marble Chips' - leaves with white margins and speckles
- 'Picturata' - leaves with a golden central area
- 'Pink Splendour' - leaves have pink and maroon shaded margins
- 'Rainbow Surprise' - a small cultivar with small pink and yellow-green leaves
- 'Taupata Gold' - cream leaves with green centres
- 'Variegata' - leaves with a creamy-white margin
- 'Yvonne' - compact form with dark-green leaves{{cite book|author= Kirsten, Keith|author2 = Lizelle Meyer-Faedda | title= Gardening with Keith Kirsten |publisher=Struik Press| year=2001 | isbn=1868725073|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B1sqtRz50ToC&q=Coprosma+repens+cultivars&pg=PA92}} {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}
The cultivars 'Marble Queen'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Coprosma repens 'Marble Queen'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/95884/Coprosma-repens-Marble-Queen-(m-v)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}} and 'Picturata'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Coprosma repens 'Picturata'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/90939/Coprosma-repens-Picturata-(m-v)/Details | access-date=15 April 2020}} have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017).{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 22 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 24 January 2018}}
Gallery
File:Coffeecream.jpg|'Coffee Cream' - a garden variety
File:Coppershine.jpg|'Copper Shine'
File:Comprosmaevening.jpg|'Evening Glow'
File:Comprosmainferno.jpg|'Inferno'
File:Marble Chips.jpg|'Marble Chips' variety
File:Starr 071024-0175 Coprosma repens.jpg|'Picturata'
File:Pink splendour.jpg|'Pink Splendour'
File:Rainbowsunrise.jpg|'Rainbow Sunshine'
File:Comprosmatequila.jpg|'Tequila Sunrise' variety
File:Comprosmawings.jpg|'Wax Wings' variety
File:Coprosmavariegeta.jpg|'Variegeta'