Herb latin name: Coprosma grandifolia


Synonyms: Coprosma australis


Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family)



Medicinal use of Coprosma grandifolia:

Poultice, skin, stomachic. Treats cuts, sores, fevers, bruises and urinary complaints. Sap from the inner bark has been used as a treatment for scabies.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Shrub

Height:
5 m
(16 feet)

Habitat of the herb:

Lowland to lower montane marginal forests, Three Kings, North and South Islands south to latitude 42° 30'.

Edible parts of Coprosma grandifolia:

Fruit - raw. Sweet and juicy, but with little flavour. The reddish-orange fruit is about 8mm long. The roasted seed is an excellent coffee substitute.

Other uses of the herb:

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood, it does not require a mordant.

Propagation of Coprosma grandifolia:

Seed - probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse or cold frame. Sow stored seed in spring in a cold frame. Germination can be slow, often taking more than 12 months even when fresh seed is used. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots. Grow on the plants for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer. Give the plants some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, autumn in a frame.

Cultivation of the herb:

Lowland to lower montane marginal forests, Three Kings, North and South Islands south to latitude 42° 30'.

Known hazards of Coprosma grandifolia:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.