The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata

Etymology

Pimelea: from the Greek pimele, referring to the seeds
prostrata: prostrate

Common Name(s)

pinatoro, New Zealand daphne, Strathmore weed

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Not Threatened

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2009 - Not Threatened
2004 - Not Threatened

Authority

Pimelea prostrata (J.R.Forst. et G.Forst.) Willd. subsp. prostrata

Family

Thymelaeaceae

Brief Description

Low growing shrub with sparsely hairy branches to 300mm long bearing pairs of blue-green narrow leaves that which join the stem at a small ridge, hairy white flowers and white fruit inhabiting open sites south from near Auckland. Leaves 3-6mm long by 1.5-4mm wide, tip rounded.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

P. laevigata Sol. ex Gaertn pro parte; P. prostrata f. parvifolia Allan

Distribution

Endemic. North Island: South Auckland, Taranaki, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, eastern Wairarapa, and near Wellington. South Island: Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, Southland

Habitat

Coastal to montane. In open sites, such as coastal gravel, sand dunes, and mudstone cliffs; on ultramafic rock, mudstone, sandstone, marble, limestone, gravel river floodplains; vegetated places, in open scrub, low grassland, Schoenus marsh, Sphagnum bog, around tarn margins.

Features

A small shrub; stems prostrate, often thin and flexible, creeping on open areas or in low vegetation, pendent on banks, cliffs, up to 300 mm long. Stems may be partially buried on sandy substrates; adventitious roots may develop on these, or on stems in moist habitats. Branching sympodial and lateral. Branchlets uniformly yellowish-brown to brown, usually smooth but sometimes muricate, glabrous except in leaf axils and on receptacles, or sparsely to moderately clad in short, silky hair. Internodes 1–4 mm long. Older stems grey-brown to dark grey. Node buttresses light to medium brown, occupying part or all of the internode; occasionally prominent on leafless branches. Leaves close (exposed or drier sites) or distant (shaded sites), patent, on short red petioles. Lamina glaucous, often red-margined, usually 3–6 × 1.5–4 mm, thin, elliptic to broad-elliptic, flat, tip obtuse. Inflorescences 5–8-flowered, terminal on branchlets. Involucral bracts to 5.6 × 4.2 mm. Flowers relatively sparsely hairy outside, inside hairless, on very short pedicels (0.2 mm). Female tube 2.5 mm long, ovary portion red, 2 mm; calyx lobes 1.2 × 1.2 mm; h tube 4.8 mm long, ovary portion 2 mm; calyx lobes 2 × 1.5 mm. Ovary moderately hairy at summit. Fruits broad ovoid to globose, fleshy, white, opaque 4.2 × 2.8 mm. Seeds narrow-ovoid 2.5 × 1.5 mm, crest very thin.

Similar Taxa

Plants of the Pimelea prostrata complex are distinguished by the prostrate to decumbent growth habit; by the glabrous to sparse or moderate hair covering on young stem internodes and by the thin and pliable, completely glabrous leaves with stomata clearly visible on both leaf surfaces. Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata is distinguished from subsp. seismica, subsp. thermalis, subsp. ventosa and subsp. vulcanica by the node buttresses elongate to covering the entire internode length; glabrous to moderately hairy young stems, and by the flat leaves with obtuse leaf -tips.

Flowering

September - May

Flower Colours

Red / Pink,White

Fruiting

October - July

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings and rooted pieces. Seed is difficult to germinate. Best grown in a well drained soil in full sun. An excellent plant for the rockery.

Threats

Not Threatened

Chromosome No.

2n = 36, 72, 90

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 6 Dec 2014