[ID] Apparently Serissa? Not convinced.

[Boics]

Hey.

I actually got this as a replacement for a tree that was given to me from the green shed that I didn't want.
It was labelled Serissa and was a "bonsai starter" i.e. stick in a pot.

Having recently seen some Serissa's at Bonsai sensation - I'm not convinced this was labelled correctly.
The growth pattern does seem a little similar to what I saw at Bonsai Sensation (and online) but leaf shape and colour do not.
My tree has never flowered (certainly no thousand stars!) but it has developed these weird almost grape like balls from time to time.

You can see from the pics one such ball which has clearly burst just recently.

What is this tree?

[Isitangus]

Leaves almost look like a jellybean olive

[bodhidharma]

Not Serissa maybe buxus. Could be wrong but just grab a leaf and crush it and if it smells bad it is serissa but i think something else.

[Boics]

The trunk looks like buxus but the leaves are almost succulent in appearance - meaning they are a bit "fat".
I should mention that the leaves are on average about a 1cm long and around half that wide.

Bodhi I crushed a leaf and no real smell to tell.
I've also root pruned and re-potted this with no foul smells of note either.

[Jester]

Hi Boics, definitely not Serissa.....I know my Serissa backwards. Looks to me like a variety of Coprosma. There is a very fine purple margin around some of the leaves and the furrowed bark to me are the 2 giveaways. Maybe something like Coprosma repens "coppershine"??

John

[Boics]

You could be onto something Jester.

I've just looked at all the Wiki links for Coprosma and this one (I don't think it's it) was the closest match:

http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te ... ugosa.html

The leaf type and bark are indeed signs that lend themselves to Coprosma.
Having read up a little more the "drupes" or as I call them "grapes" are yet another indicator that may lead to Coprosma.
Funny though as I do have a Coprosma and I didn't think there were varieties with this small a leaf?

In addition I was of the understand that Coprosma was near too if not a weed?
Therefore I would have thought that this wouldn't be for sale? Or maybe that is why it was incorrectly labeled!

[Jester]

There are varieties of coprosma with even smaller leaves like Coprosma "kirkii"

[Boics]

Nice one Jester.
I reckon kirkii is it.http://www.plantthis.com.au/plant-infor ... ener=11784

Best match I've seen.