Coprosma perpusilla

Coprosma perpusilla, commonly known as creeping coprosma, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is found in Australia, New Zealand and on some subantarctic islands. The specific epithet comes from the Latin per (very) and pusillus (very small), referring to the growth habit.[1]

Coprosma perpusilla
Coprosma perpusilla subsp. perpusilla
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Coprosma
Species:
C. perpusilla
Binomial name
Coprosma perpusilla
Colenso, 1890
Subspecies
  • C. p. pusilla Colenso
  • C. p. subantarctica Orchard

Taxonomy

When the Coprosma pumila complex was revised by Orchard in 1986, he resurrected C. perpusilla Colenso from synonymy with C. pumila, recognising two subspecies – the nominate for the plants of New Zealand and Australia, with C. perpusilla ssp. subantarctica erected for the plants on the subantarctic islands.[2]

Description

Creeping coprosma is a prostrate subshrub, with mat-forming stems 300–400 mm long, glabrous, and rooting at the nodes. The small lanceolate to ovate leaves are 4.5–7 mm long and 2–3.5 mm wide, crowded on short shoots. The sessile flowers occur in summer on erect branchlets, and range in colour from greenish white to orange-yellow with red flecks. The fruit is an ovoid drupe 4–6 mm long and yellow-orange to orange-red in colour.[3]

Distribution and habitat

The plant occurs in New Zealand, in Australia where it is native to the states of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania,[3] and to the subantarctic islands of Macquarie, Campbell, the Aucklands and the Antipodes. It grows in various habitats in alpine and subalpine regions.[3] On Macquarie Island it has been adversely affected by rabbit grazing.[1]

References

Notes
  1. Flora of Australia Online.
  2. Orchard (1986).
  3. PlantNET

Sources
  • James, T.A. "Coprosma perpusilla Colenso". PlantNET: New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust: Sydney. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  • Orchard, A.E. (1986). "A revision of the Coprosma pumila (Rubiaceae) complex in Australia, New Zealand and the Subantarctic Islands". Brunonia. 9 (2): 119–138. doi:10.1071/BRU9860119.
  • "Coprosma perpusilla subsp. subantarctica Orchard". Flora of Australia Online. ABRS. 1993. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
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