Creeping coprosma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Creeping coprosma |
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| Coprosma perpusilla subsp. perpusilla | |
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Coprosma
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| Species: |
perpusilla
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Coprosma perpusilla, also known as creeping coprosma, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Rubiaceae family, which includes coffee plants! This small plant is found in Australia, New Zealand, and on some cold subantarctic islands. Its scientific name, perpusilla, comes from Latin words meaning "very small." This describes how the plant grows low to the ground.
Contents
What Creeping Coprosma Looks Like
Creeping coprosma is a low-growing plant that spreads out like a mat. Its stems can be 300–400 mm (about 12-16 inches) long. These stems often root into the ground as they grow.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The plant has tiny leaves, which are usually 4.5–7 mm long and 2–3.5 mm wide. They are crowded together on short branches.
In summer, you can see its small flowers. They grow on upright little branches. The flowers can be greenish-white to orange-yellow, sometimes with red spots.
After the flowers, the plant produces fruit. This fruit is a small, oval-shaped drupe, about 4–6 mm long. It changes color from yellow-orange to orange-red as it ripens.
Where Creeping Coprosma Lives
This plant grows in several places around the world. In New Zealand, it is a native plant. In Australia, you can find it in the states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.
It also lives on some very cold, remote islands. These include Macquarie, Campbell, the Aucklands, and the Antipodes.
Plant Habitats
Creeping coprosma likes to grow in high, cold places. It is often found in alpine and subalpine areas. These are regions just below the tree line, where the weather is harsh and cold. On Macquarie Island, this plant has sometimes been affected by animals eating it.
