Coprosma nitida

Coprosma nitida
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Coprosma
Species:	C. nitida
Binomial name
Coprosma nitida Hook.f.1

Coprosma nitida, the mountain currant or shining currant, is a shrub species endemic to south-east Australia. It is a shrub with small, glossy leaves, occasional spines on the end of its branchlets, and small bright red-orange fruits.

Coprosma nitida is erect, densely branching shrub in the family Rubiaceae, growing between 1 and 2 m high. Leaves are 5–15 mm in length, narrow-ovate with a distinct midrib, glossy leaf surface, and entire leaf margin, arranged oppositely on short petioles.² The ends of its branchlets are often sharpened.³ C. nitida is dioecious with single, terminal flowers. These are funnel-shaped, approximately 5 mm in diameter, and pale green in colour. Flowering occurs spring through summer followed by red-orange fleshy drupe or ‘fruit’, round and 10 mm long.⁴

The genus Coprosma is found in Australia, New Zealand, the Hawaiian Islands, Borneo, Java, New Guinea, to the Juan Fernández Islands.⁵ The species nitida is found exclusively in the south-eastern states Tasmania, some parts of Victoria and New South Wales. C. nitida most commonly occurs in subalpine woodlands between 400 and 1,000 m above sea level, in well-drained soils.⁴