PLATE 81.—COPROSMA AREOLATA 
Famity RUBIACE.] [Genus COPROSMA, Forsv. 
Coprosma areolata, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xviii (1886), 315; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. 
Fl. 252. 
This was first recognized as a distinct species by myself; and was described 
under its present name in a paper read before the Auckland Institute in 1885, and 
published in the ‘‘ Transactions of the New Zealand Institute ” for the same year. 
At the same time, however, I was informed by Mr. N. E. Brown that specimens 
of old date clearly referable to it existed in the Kew Herbarium, and were confused 
with C. rotundifolia by Sir J. D. Hooker, both in the ‘‘ Flora Novee Zelandiz” and 
in the “* Handbook.” It is not easy to understand how this could be done, seeing 
that C. areolata differs conspicuously from C. rotundifolia in the paler colour, fastigiate 
and not divaricating mode of growth, much smaller and paler acute leaves, and 
rather larger black drupes. It is much nearer to C. tenwicaulis, which is chiefly 
separated by its smaller size, spreading branches, dark-coloured bark, less 
pubescent leaves and branchlets, and smaller and more coriaceous leaves. 
C. areolata is a widely distributed species, being found in lowland forests 
throughout the greater part of the Dominion, from Mangonui and Kaitaia 
southwards to Stewart Island. It is perhaps most abundant in the swampy 
forests which fringe the banks of many of the larger rivers, as the Northern 
Wairoa, Thames, Waikato, &c. In such situations its tall fastigiate mode of 
growth and pale bark and foliage offer a striking contrast to other species of 
the same genus often found in close association with it; as, for instance, 
C. rotundifolia, C. tenuicaulis, C. rigida, C. parviflora, &c. All these have 
widely divaricating branches, and thus present an altogether different aspect. 
In most of the lowland species of Coprosma the flowering season is in early 
spring—that is, from the middle of August to the middle of October, according 
to the species. The fruit matures during the following autumn, the months of 
April and May being the time when perfectly ripe fruit can be obtained in the 
greater number of the species. C. areolata, however, is remarkable for departing 
from this rule. It flowers at the usual time, which in the North Island is the 
month of September or beginning of October, but its fruit is not mature until 
the December of the following year, or not until after the lapse of fifteen months. 
On the same tree can be seen perfectly ripe fruit and immature berries which 
will not be ripe until the following December. It is difficult to imagine what 
advantage it can be to the species to have the development of its fruit delayed 
to such an extent. 
Pate 81. Coprosma areolata, male, female, and fruit, drawn from specimens collected at Hunua, 
near Auckland. Fig. 1, pair of leaves (x 2); 2, male flowers (x 4); 3, female flowers (x 4); 
4, longitudinal sections of female flower (x 6); 5, fruit (x 4); 6, section of fruit (x 4); 7, section 
of pyrene (x 4); 8, section of seed (x 4). 
