Coprosma lanceolaris


Coprosma lanceolaris is a flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. The specific epithet comes from the Latin lancea with the suffix -aris, alluding to the shape of the leaves.

Description

It is a shrub growing to 2 m in height. The fleshy, bright green, broadly lanceolate or lanceolate to elliptic leaves are 30–90 mm long, 15–40 mm wide, with a foetid odour when crushed. The flowers are small and green, 5 mm long. The egg-shaped red fruits are 6–8 mm long. The flowering season is from mid May to mid October.

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to Australia’s subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. It is common in the montane forest of the island, at elevations of over 500 m.