The Floral Morphology of the Large-Leaved Species of Coprosma in New Zealand

Abstract

This paper describes and illustrates the flowers and inflorescences of the ten larger-leaved New Zealand species of Coprosma; counts and measurements of many characters are tabulated, and show a great deal of variation; contrary to previous records the calyx is present in all species studied except for the male flowers of C. chathamica; dioecism is general, but in addition to the known occurrence of hermaphrodite flowers, in most species, this paper records the regular occurrence of small anthers in the female flowers of C. lucida and C. foetidissima, and of small styles in the male flowers of C. foetidissima, C. serrulata and C. lucida. The species studied in this thesis are: Coprosma foetidissima C. arborea, C. serrulata, C. tenuifolia, C. australis, C. robusta, C. macrocarpa, C. chathamica, C. repens and C. lucida.Their order of arrangement follows that of Oliver and Allan.