Plants of New Zealand

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Identifier: plantsofnewzeala1906lain (find matches)
Title: Plants of New Zealand
Year: 1906 (1900s)
Authors: Laing, R. M. (Robert Malcolm), b. 1865 Blackwell, E. W. (Ellen W.)
Subjects: Plants
Publisher: Christchurch : Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd.
Contributing Library: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden
Digitizing Sponsor: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden

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scrub consists chiefly of Copros?7ia. The most characteristicspecies of the genus are twiggy shrubs, which frequentlycover the ground so thickly, that it is impossible to force away through them. Oftentimes, the only method of gettingpast the coprosma-scrub is to walk over the top of it. Thismethod of progression, however, is not a very satisfactory one,as there is often much risk of falling through, up to the neck.The shrubby coprosmas generally produce small, round, orlinear leaves, less than an inch in length. It must not,however, be imagined that all shrubs with small leaves andtwiggy interlacing branches, belong to this genus. It has already been pointed out that there is a considerablenumber of species of plants, which, in a juvenile stage of theirexistence, assume a coprosma-like appearance (v. Hoheriaangustifolia, p. 256.) Other plants, in their mature forms,also often resemble the coprosma type, e.g., Olearia virgatu,Myrtus pedunculata, Paratrophis, etc. THE MADDER FAMILY 391
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 132. Coprosiiia lucida (§ nat. size). 392 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND The larger species of Coprosma bear little resemblance tocoprosma-scrub. They have often leaves several inches inlength, which are of a brighter green than those of theshrubby forms. Some of these are well known plants, andare frequently cultivated. Thus C. lucida, which with severalother arboreous species, is known as Karamii, is frequentlyfound in gardens, being valued on account of the beauty of itssmall orange-red berries. It has been suggested that theseeds of this and of C. Baueri might be ground for coffee, asthe genus is not far removed from that of the coffee plant.Indeed, a member of the Wellington Philosophical Societyonce provided his fellow members with coffee from thelatter plant. This drink was said to possess a splendid aroma,but the experiment does not seem to have been repeated. C. Baueri is much used for hedges in Wellington and Mel-bourne. In the former place it is generally known as taupata(some

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