| Although it is sometimes
a shrub, the tree forms of this species
can be found in the forest near Thurston Lava Tube (Lamoureux 1996:
85). These trees are up to 20 feet tall (Stone and Pratt 1994: 182).
The branching pattern is asymmetrical with some of the side branches being longer than the others (Stone and Pratt 1994: 183). The branches are generally in one plane (Wagner, et al. 1990: 1129). |
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| The bark is thin and smooth and colored gray with darkish splotches (Stone and Pratt 1994: 183). |
| The leaves are thin
and oval, up to 4 inches long and one inch wide (Lamoureux 1996: 85).
The leaves are thick and widest near the tip; they have prominent secondary veins (Stone and Pratt 1994: 184). |
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| A stipule (which clasps the stem above the leaves) is a recognition characteristic that helps separate the various Coprosma species (Stone & Pratt 1994: 183). |  |
| This plant is dioecious.
The flowers are tiny and greenish white and are found in the leaf
axils near the tips of the branches (Stone & Pratt 1994: 183).
The male flowers have prominent stamens (Stone & Pratt 1994: 183). |
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| The fruit are reddish orange and egg shaped, about one-quarter inch long (Lamoureux 1996: 85). The fruit have a crown of tiny teeth (Stone & Pratt 1994: 183). The two large seeds inside are flattened and resemble small coffee beans (Stone & Pratt 1994: 183). |  |
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| Thurston Lava Tube | Lots of fruit. | 6/10/01 |