Coprosma propinqua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coprosma propinqua |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Coprosma
|
| Species: |
propinqua
|
The mingimingi plant, also known by its science name Coprosma propinqua, is a special shrub or small tree found in New Zealand. It belongs to a plant family called Rubiaceae. The name mingimingi is also used for some of its close relatives, like C. dumosa and C. rhamnoides.
This plant is usually a small-leaved shrub or a small tree. It can grow between 3 and 6 metres tall.
Contents
Discovering the Mingimingi Plant
The mingimingi plant has a unique look because of its branches. They grow in a wide, tangled way, spreading out in different directions. This is called "divaricating" branches.
Where the Mingimingi Grows
You can find the mingimingi plant in many different places across New Zealand. It likes wet areas like swampy forests and scrubland. It also grows well along stream banks and in rocky spots.
This plant is found all over New Zealand. It grows from Mangonui in the North Island all the way down to Stewart Island in the south. It can grow from sea level up to 460 metres high.
Flowers and Fruit of the Mingimingi
The mingimingi plant has different flowers for male and female plants. The male flowers grow in small groups of one to four. These groups are found on very short branches.
The female flowers are usually found on their own. They grow at the very ends of short branchlets.
After the flowers, the plant produces fruit. This fruit is a type of drupe. When the fruit is young, it is pale in color. As it ripens, it turns a dark blue or has blue speckles.
Mingimingi and Its Plant Relatives
Coprosma propinqua can easily mix its genes with another plant called C. robusta (karamu). When two different plant species mix their genes, it's called hybridizing. This creates a new plant that shares features from both parent plants.
