Coprosma brunnea
Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Subfamily: Rubioideae
Tribe: Anthospermeae
Genus: Coprosma
Species: Coprosma brunnea
Common name: Brown-stemmed Coprosma
Coprosma brunnea one of 45 species of Genus Coprosma that are found in New Zealand. It grows in lowland to higher montane river beds, open grassland and rocky places on North, South and Stewart Islands, from Mt Taranaki to the volcanic plateau southwards. This sprawling shrub grows up to 30-40 cm tall with a spread of up to 2 metres across. It has brown stems which are flexible and forms a tangled mass.
Very small flowers develop from August to October and the female plant has translucent drupes (berries) 5-6 mm long which ripen in February. In the North Island the drupes are a bright sky blue but in the South Island they may be deep rich blue in colour.
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