Species

Coprosma grandifolia

Etymology

Coprosma: from the Greek kopros 'dung' and osme 'smell', referring to the foul smell of the species, literally 'dung smell'
grandifolia: big leaved

Common Name(s)

kanono, manono, large-leaved coprosma, raurekau

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Coprosma grandifolia Hook.f.

Family

Rubiaceae

Brief Description

Common large shrub with pairs of thin wavy, mottled leaves. Leaves to 20cm long, oval, pointed, with small pits at junction of veins. Sharp dark point on stem between pairs of leaves. Fruit orangeish, on obvious stalks in open clusters.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

NVS Species Code

COPGRA

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.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Coprosma australis (Richard) Robinson, Ronabea australis Richard, Coprosma autumnalis Colenso

Distribution

Endemic. North to South Islands. In the South Island extending to Lake Ianthe in the west and the Marlborough Sounds in the east.

Habitat

Common in the understorey of forest, and in sheltered shady sites from the coast to montane and cloud forest. In areas of high rainfall can be a major component of shrublands, and within regenerating forest. Often common along the margins of logging tracks and roads.

Similar Taxa

Easily distinguished by the very large, broad, yellow-green leaves which are variously mottled with dark green or purple, and have prominent leaf "drip-tips", and by the very large, entirely glandular leaf stipules - seen otherwise only in the very different looking C. waima. It also differs from all of the other similar large-leaved species by its usually autumnal flowering pattern.

Flowering

(March-) April (-June) but may also occasionally flower in September.

Flower Colours

Green,White

Fruiting

(September-) October-January (-April)

Propagation Technique

Very easy from fresh seed. Also easy from semi-hardwood cuttings. Prefers a shaded site in damp soil but will tolerate most garden situations.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 44

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

Life Cycle and Dispersal

Fleshy drupes are dispersed by frugivory (Thorsen et al., 2009).

Where To Buy

Not commonly cultivated. Occasional available from garden centres.

 

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

This page last updated on 15 Aug 2014