Family: Rubiaceae
Coprosma repens
Citation:
A. Rich. in P. Lesson, Voy. l'Atstrolabe 1:264 (1832).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Looking glass bush, taupata.
Description:
Shrubs or trees up to 2.5 m high, much branched, with stiff spreading branches; leaves with petioles 6-15 mm long; blade ovate-oblong to almost orbicular, rarely broadly elliptic, 25-65 x 20-50 mm, rounded to emarginate, abruptly constricted into the petiole, deep lustrous green above, paler below, stiffly fleshy; stipules with 5-7 short lobes on the sheath on either side of the node.
Flowers in dense cymose clusters; male flowers numerous, with minute calyx lobes, corolla shortly funnel-shaped; female flowers usually 3 per inflorescence, with very short obtuse calyx lobes; corolla tube funnel-shaped and splitting into 2-4 lobes, yellowish-green.
Fruit 6-8 mm long, glossy, orange-red.
Published illustration:
Costermans (1981) Native trees and shrubs of south-eastern Australia, p. 278.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: EP, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE. Vic. Native to New Zealand.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Nov. — Dec.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Uses:
Often found near old homesteads where it had been used as a hedge plant.
Author:
Not yet available
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