Coprosma acutifolia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coprosma acutifolia |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Coprosma
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| Species: |
acutifolia
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Coprosma acutifolia is a type of shrub or small tree. It is native to New Zealand and can only be found on Raoul Island. This plant can grow quite tall, reaching up to 12 metres (about 39 feet).
It grows in both wet and dry forests. At lower elevations, it is a "sub-canopy" tree. This means it grows under the tallest trees. Along the tops of ridges, it becomes a "canopy" species, meaning it is one of the tallest trees there.
Coprosma acutifolia can grow up to 10 metres (33 feet) tall. Its branches grow upwards. The leaves are thin and smooth. They have slender stems, about 5–7 millimetres long. The leaves are shaped like an egg or a spear, with a pointed tip. They are about 60–75 millimetres long and 20–35 millimetres wide. The edges of the leaves can be slightly wavy. You can see a fine network of veins on the leaves.
The plant produces small flowers. Male flowers usually grow in groups of 3 to 9 on thin, branched stalks. Female flowers grow in clusters of 3 on branched stalks. After flowering, the plant produces small, orange-red fruits. These fruits are oblong and about 7–8 millimetres long.
What's in a Name?
The name Coprosma comes from two Greek words. Kopros means "dung" (animal waste), and osme means "smell." This name describes the unpleasant smell that many plants in this group have.
The second part of the name, acutifolia, comes from Latin. It means "sharp-leaved." This describes the pointed shape of the plant's leaves.
