Coprosma rhamnoides facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coprosma rhamnoides
Scientific classification
Genus:	Coprosma
Species:	rhamnoides

Coprosma rhamnoides, also called twiggy coprosma or red-currant coprosma, is a special shrub that only grows in New Zealand. It's a small plant, usually growing up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Its leaves are tiny and can look different from one plant to another. The flowers are small and not very noticeable. They are pollinated by the wind. This plant is found in many places and can be a common small shrub with branches that spread out in many directions.

What Does Twiggy Coprosma Look Like?

Twiggy coprosma is a thick, bushy plant. It often grows less than 1 meter (3 feet) tall. If there are rocks nearby, it might even spread out flat over them. Its branches are very thin and grow in many directions. This gives the plant a distinct "twiggy" look, which is how it got its common name.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of this plant feel like leather and have a dull, matte surface. They are smooth and not see-through. You can see a network of veins on the underside of the leaves.

The leaves often grow in small clusters. They are attached to the branches by very short stems called petioles. The leaves grow opposite each other on the branch. They are usually 7 to 12 millimeters (about 0.3 to 0.5 inches) long.

The size and shape of the leaves can change depending on how old the plant is. The most common leaf shape is round. The leaves quickly narrow down to meet the petiole. These petioles are covered with tiny hairs, and these hairs can also be found on the lower part of the leaf.

At the base of each leaf, there's a tiny part called a stipule. This stipule also has small hairs and a sharp point at its tip. These stipules are almost too small to see without a magnifying glass.

The branches themselves are also very thin, usually about 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) across. There are many branches, making the shrub very dense. They are stiff and spread out in all directions, which creates that "twiggy" look. The bark is a reddish-brown color. If you scratch the bark, you'll see a bright yellow-green color underneath.

Flowers and Berries

The flowers of the twiggy coprosma grow in the leaf axils, which means where the leaves meet the stem.

Female flowers are smaller than male flowers. However, both male and female flowers have four petals. The petals on male flowers are about 2.7 millimeters long, while female petals are about 1.3 millimeters long and are more narrow and funnel-shaped. Male flowers have four stamens, which produce pollen.

One of the easiest ways to identify the twiggy coprosma is by its bright red berries. These berries are fleshy and can be crimson or ruby red. They grow one by one along the small branches and are round in shape.

Where Does Twiggy Coprosma Live?

Found Only in New Zealand

The Coprosma rhamnoides is an endemic plant to New Zealand. This means it naturally grows only in New Zealand and nowhere else in the world.

Across New Zealand

You can find twiggy coprosma all over New Zealand, from the very top (Northland) to the very bottom (Stewart Island). It's a common plant in most areas. However, it's not as common in Otago, Southland, and the Fiordland regions. It's also rarely found near the coast. It prefers to grow further inland.

Preferred Homes

Twiggy coprosma likes to live in lowland areas, including the lower parts of mountains. It often grows at the edges of forests or in areas with lots of shrubs. It especially likes to grow underneath other plants like Manuka and Kanuka. Since it avoids coastal areas, it seems to prefer places with low salt levels in the soil.

Life Cycle of Twiggy Coprosma

The twiggy coprosma starts its life as a small seed inside a fleshy red berry. After about two or three months, the seedlings begin to sprout.

Once the shrub is grown, small flowers appear. This usually happens in the spring, from September to October. These flowers are pollinated by the wind. Soon after, in November, the flowers turn into small green berries. These berries slowly ripen and turn red by June of the next year.

When the berries are red, they are ripe. Each berry contains only two small seeds. The berries can stay on the shrub even after they are ripe. They might even become a darker crimson or black color as they get older.

How Twiggy Coprosma Survives

Environmental Needs

Twiggy coprosma grows inland, where the soil doesn't have much salt. It doesn't like salty soils. The best soil for this shrub has a neutral pH level. Besides that, this plant is known to be very tough. It can grow in harsh conditions, even with strong winds and lots of weather exposure. It can also grow well in both sunny and rainy places.

Who Eats Twiggy Coprosma?

Many animals like to eat the twiggy coprosma. Geckos and skinks, which are types of lizards, often eat the berries at night. During the day, birds like Kererū, Tūī, Bellbird, Stitchbird, and Weka will feast on the berries. Rats also enjoy eating the berries.

Larger mammals like goats, deer, and cattle find the leaves tasty. However, because the twiggy coprosma has so many thin, stiff branches, it's hard for these animals to reach the leaves and berries.

Some insects are also adapted to eat this plant. The 'coprosma leaf beetle' can chew holes in the young leaves. This beetle usually appears on the shrub in springtime and can jump from leaf to leaf. Other insects that eat the leaves include three native caterpillars:

• Dark Coprosma Carpet moth (Austrocidaria similata)
• Coprosma pug moth (Pasiphila sandycias)
• Pallid Coprosma leafroller (Leucotenes coprosmae)

Two types of 'coprosma scale insects' also feed on the twiggy coprosma.

Some tiny parasites, like gall mites and gall midges, can also affect the plant. These mites can make the leaves turn yellow.

Interesting Facts

The twiggy coprosma is the most common small-leaved Coprosma species in New Zealand. New Zealand has about 30 different types of Coprosma plants in total.

People don't usually grow twiggy coprosma in gardens. This is probably because of its messy, twiggy appearance. However, if someone wanted to grow it, they could take semi-hardwood cuttings and plant them in the ground to grow new roots.

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