Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 29, 2026

Coprosma putida

Coprosma putida, commonly known as stinkwood, is a flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. The Latin specific epithet putida means "stinking", alluding to the stench produced when the plant is cut or bruised, including the leaves and fruit.

Last revised
Jul 29, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
193 w
Citations
6
Source
Coprosma putida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Coprosma
Species:
C. putida
Binomial name
Coprosma putida

Coprosma putida, commonly known as stinkwood, is a flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. The Latin specific epithet putida means "stinking", alluding to the stench produced when the plant is cut or bruised, including the leaves and fruit.1

Description

It is a shrub or small tree growing to 4 m in height. The broadly elliptic-oblong leaves are 40–110 mm long, 25–80 mm wide. The small, greenish-white flowers are 8 mm long. The fleshy, red fruits are 20 mm long. The flowering season is from August to early November.12

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to Australia’s subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. It is common and widespread at all elevations in sheltered forest.12

References

References

  1. "Coprosma putida". Flora of Australia Online: Data derived from Flora of Australia Volume 49 (1994). Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  2. Hutton, Ian (1998). The Australian Geographic Book of Lord Howe Island. Sydney: Australian Geographic. p. 144. ISBN 1-876276-27-4.