The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Pimelea prostrata subsp. seismica

Etymology

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

Common Name(s)

pinatoro

Current Conservation Status

2012 - Data Deficient

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 subsp. seismica C.J.Burrows

Family

Thymelaeaceae

Brief Description

Low growing shrub with branches that are densely hairy towards the tip and bearing pairs of blue-green narrow leaves that which join the stem at a small bump, hairy white flowers and white fruit inhabiting the North Island and Northwest Nelson. Leaves 4-8mm long by 2.2-3.2mm wide.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

None (first described in 2009)

Distribution

Endemic. North Island: North Cape and near Cape Reinga, scattered along the west coast of the North Island to Auckland, Wellington. South Island: North-west to as far south as Cape Foulwind.

Habitat

Coastal to slightly inland. In open sites on grassy slopes and in shrublands or dunes, on cliffs or rock outcrops.

Features

A small to medium-sized, much-branched, prostrate, sometimes decumbent, low shrub. Main stems to 40 cm long, stout, flexible or stiff. Young stems brown, moderately or very hairy. Branching is both sympodial and lateral and the laterals are few to numerous, long, usually flexible and moderately thick. Internodes 1–5 mm long. Older stems glabrous and grey-brown to dark-brown. Node buttresses usually short (0.3 mm) lunate, brown. More elongate node buttresses may occur on the same plants. They are not prominent on leafless stems. Leaves ascendant, then patent to deflexed, on short (0.3–0.5 mm) red petioles. Lamina ovate, elliptic or often oblong, 4–8 × 2.2–3.2 mm, light green, glaucous, acute or sometimes obtuse, flat or slightly adaxially concave, margins slightly upturned, midvein evident abaxially. Inflorescences terminal on branchlets, 4–6-flowered. Involucral bracts 4, smaller than, or similar in size to adjacent leaves (5 × 3 mm). Flowers white, moderately hairy outside; inside hairless. Female tube 3.5 mm long, ovary portion 3 mm, calyx lobes 1.3 × 0.9 mm; Perfect flower tube 4 mm long, ovary portion 3 mm, calyx lobes 2 × 1 mm. Ovary has sparse hair on summit and to about two-thirds of the way down. Fruits oblate, white, opaque 5.4 × 4 mm. Seeds broad ovoid 2.2 × 1.6 mm.

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. seismica is distinguished from subsp. prostrata, subsp. thermalis, subsp. ventosa and subsp. vulcanica by the lunate node buttresses; relatively densely hairy young stems that become smooth and glabrous with age, and acute leaves.

Flowering

October - January

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

December - May

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

Unknown. Burrows (2009) implies it is severely threatened but without any backing evidence. In future threat listings subsp. seismica would probably be assigned Data Deficient.

Chromosome No.

2n = 36

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 6 Jan 2014