252 : RUBIACES. [Coprosma. 
separated by the nearly glabrous branchlets and oblong yellow fruit. The leaves 
are often blotched, and are usually more or less deciduous, so that the plant is 
often quite bare in spring. 
15. C. areolata, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xviii. (1886) 
315.—An erect closely branched shrub or small tree 6-15 ft. high ; 
branches slender, fastigiate, ultimate pubescent or villous with soft 
greyish hairs. Leaves 4-2 in. long, orbicular-spathulate to ovate- 
or elliptic-spathulate, acute or apiculate, abruptly narrowed into 
short hairy petioles, thin and membranous, flat, glabrous or nearly 
so above, usually pubescent on the veins beneath; veins forming 
large areoles. Flowers axillary, solitary or in 2—4-flowered fascicles. 
Male flowers: True calyx wanting, but one or two calycine invo- 
lucels closely invest the base of the corolla. Corolla broadly cam- 
panulate, 4in. long, deeply 4-5-lobed. Females: Solitary or 2 
together, jin. long. Calyx truncate or obscurely 4-toothed. 
Corolla narrow-funnel-shaped, shortly 4-lobed. Drupe globose, 
4in. diam., black or nearly so when fully ripe.—Kirk, Students’ Fl. 
235. OC. multiflora, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxi. (1889) 86. 
Nort anp SoutH Istanps: Not uncommon in lowland forests through- 
out. Sea-level to 1500 ft. September—October. 
The fastigiate habit makes this species easy of recognition. Its nearest ally 
is C. tenuicaulis, which is separated by its smaller size, spreading branches, 
dark-coloured bark, more glabrous leaves and branchlets, and smaller and more 
coriaceous leaves. 
16. C. tenuicaulis, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 106.—A much- 
branched shrub 4-8ft. high; bark purplish-brown; branches 
slender, spreading, often interlaced, young ones finely puberulous. 
Leaves +-4in. long, rarely more, orbicular- or ovate-spathulate, 
rounded at the apex, obtuse or subacute, abruptly narrowed into 
a short flat petiole, somewhat coriaceous, flat, glabrous on both 
surfaces; veins reticulated in large areoles. Flowers axillary, 
solitary or in 2-3-flowered fascicles, involucellate. Males: Calyx 
wanting. Corolla campanulate, $—+in. long, 4-d-lobed. Females 
smaller and shorter. Calyx-limb truncate. Corolla tubular, 3-5- 
lobed. Drupe globose or depressed, }in. diam., shining-black.— 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. 115; Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xix. (1887) 
239; Kirk, Students’ Fl. 236. 
Var. major, Cheesem. — Leaves much larger and more membranous, 
#-14 in. long; blade orbicular, suddenly narrowed into a long flat petiole often 
equalling the blade. Flowers and fruit apparently as in the type. Perhaps a 
distinct species. 
Norru Istanp: Abundant in marshy forests or open turfy swamps from 
the North Cape to Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki. Var. major: Lower Waikato, 
H. Carse ! Sea-level to 1000 ft. September—October. 
17. C. rhamnoides, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 474.—A small densely 
branched shrub 2-6ft. high; bark reddish-brown, uneven ; 
branches numerous, spreading, often rigid and interlaced when 
