Coprosma rhamnoides

It is a dense shrub.{{cite book|title=Small-leaved shrubs of New Zealand.|publisher=Manuka Press.|author= Wilson, H.|date= 1993}} which can sprawl over rocks.{{cite book|title=The students' flora of New Zealand and the outlying islands|publisher=John MacKay, Government Printer|author= Kirk, T.|date= 1899}} It is typically less than 1 metre tall. with thin, divaricating branches. This gives a distinct twiggy appearance which accounts for the common name ‘twiggy coprosma’.{{cite book|title=Flora of New Zealand.|publisher=P. D. Hasselberg, Government Printer.|author= Allan, H. H.|date= 1982}}

The leaves are leathery and matte with a glabrous lamina which appears reticulate on the underside where it may also be pubescent.

The opposite leaves{{cite book|title=Which Native Forest Plant?.|publisher=Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd.|author= Crow A.|date=2009}} are often in bundles with very short petioles and are 7 – 12 mm long.

The leaves are variable in size and shape. This can depend on maturity. The common broad shape leaves are orbicular. The leaves narrow quickly into the pubescent petiole. The hairs continue onto the lower area of the leaf ).

The almost microscopic stipules at the base of the leaves are also pubescent with a sharp denticle at their apices.

The branches are small, about 10 mm in diameter and numerous, which makes the shrub dense. The branches are rigid and growing in many directions which creates the twiggy appearance. The bark is a reddish brown colour, and when scratched, it exposes a yellow/green colour.

The flowers are small and borne in the axils. Both male and female corollas comprise four lobed petals. The male petal is 2.7 mm, whereas the female is 1.3mm long and are more narrow and funnel shaped. The male has four stamens.

The fruit are fleshy, globose berries, of a crimson or ruby red colour distributed solitarily along the branchlets.

C rhamnoides species is endemic to New Zealand {{cite book|title=New Zealand Indigenous Vascular Plant Checklist.|publisher=Wellington, New Zealand.|author= De Lange P. J.|date=2006}} and is common throughout New Zealand, except for Otago, Southland and Fiordland.

C.rhamnoides prefers lowland areas, including the lower ranges of mountains around the edges of forests or in shrubland. It frequently grows as understorey vegetation of Leptospermum (mānuka) and Kunzea.

C. rhamnoides has a small seed with fleshy red berry surrounding it. The seedlings start to appear after two/three months {{cite book|title=Seed collection and propagation guide for native trees and shrubs.|author= Department of Conservation Network|date=n.d.}} Once the shrub is grown, small flowers occur. This would be during Spring from September to October. The flowers are wind pollinated. Soon after, in November, the flowers form small green berries. These berries ripen and turn red by June the next year. The berries can remain on the shrub, and over ripen as they turn a crimson or black colour.{{cite book|title=Palmer's Manual of Trees, Shrubs & Climbers|publisher=Lancewood publishing|author= Lnacewood publishing|date=1990}}

C. rhamnoides can grow in the most hardy conditions, under high wind and weather exposure and in sunny or rainy environmental conditions

Native lizards and frugivorous birds are likely seed dispersers for this species, including kererū, tūī, korimako (bellbird), stitchbird, and weka. Introduced rodents likely eat the fruit and seed.

The leaves are appetising for mammals such as goats, deer or cattle. However, as the twiggy coprosma name suggests, the divaricating structure makes it difficult for grazers to access the leaves and berries.

A slightly more adapted herbivore to the twiggy coprosma is the ‘coprosma leaf beetle’. This species can chew holes in the young leaves. This beetle appears around Spring time on the shrub. It can jump from leaf to leaf. Other herbivorous insects include three native caterpillars. These are the

Dark Coprosma Carpet moth - Austrocidaria similata

Coprosma pug moth - Pasiphila sandycias

Pallid Coprosma leafroller - Leucotenes coprosmae

Lastly, two coprosma scale insects are herbivores of the coprosma rhamnoides.

Two gall mites are parasites of the coprosma rhamnoides and also several gall midges. The mites can cause a discolouration in the leaves. They make the leaves turn yellow.{{cite book|title=Coprosma white erineum mite - Phyllocoptes coprosma|publisher= publishing|date=2016}}

Coprosma rhamnoides is the most common small-leaved coprosma in New Zealand. New Zealand has approximately 30 in total.

The coprosma rhamnoides is not usually grown in gardens, likely due to the scruffy and twig-like appearance. However, if it were to be cultivated, it can grow roots from semi-hardwood cuttings when placed in the ground.

• Coprosma spathulata

{{Reflist}}

• C. Michael Hogan. 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120213134120/http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=95431 Crown Fern: Blechnum discolor, Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg]
• New Zealand Institute. 1908. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, Published by J. Hughes, Printer, vol. 40

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rhamnoides

Category:Flora of New Zealand

Category:Divaricating plants