The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Pimelea sporadica

Etymology

Pimelea: from the Greek pimele, referring to the seeds

Current Conservation Status

2012 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

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 - Data Deficient
2004 - Range Restricted

Qualifiers

2012 - RR

Authority

Pimelea sporadica C.J.Burrows

Family

Thymelaeaceae

Brief Description

Small shrub to 45cm tall with erect white-hairy branches bearing pairs of green fleshy poking out leaves, hairy white flowers and white fruit inhabiting coastal northern North Island south to East Cape. Leaves 4.5-6.5mm long by 3-3.7mm, cupped, underside shiny, leaves underneath flowers larger.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

Pimelea laevigata Sol. ex Gaertn. pro parte

Distribution

Endemic. North Island: Te Paki (North Cape) to Cape Brett, Bay of Islands and near Maunganui Bluff. East Cape at Hicks Bay.

Habitat

Coastal headlands and rock outcrops (ultramafic, sandstone and basalt), in low scrub or on bare ground, also on consolidated sand. Most common on ultramafic rocks at North Cape.

Features

A medium-sized, erect to suberect shrub, to 450 mm high. Branches stiff, divergent. Branching both sympodial and lateral but the former is most notable. Branchlets moderately densely covered by short, grey-white hair. Internodes 1.5–3.0 mm long. Older stems glabrous, grey-brown. Node buttresses short (0.2 mm) dark brown, lunate, masked by hair on young branchlets, moderately prominent on leafless branches. Leaves decussate, crowded on young branches, ascendant at first, then mainly patent and becoming deflexed, on very short (0.1–0.2 mm) red petioles, or sessile. Lamina relatively thick, stiff, ovate to oblong, 4.5–6.5 × 3.0–3.7 mm, glabrous, medium-green, glaucous, slightly keeled, or adaxially concave, margins slightly upturned, midvein not plainly evident abaxially, slightly sunken, acute, base cuneate or truncate. Stomata on adaxial surface only. Abaxial surface glistens. Inflorescences 3–6-flowered, terminal on leading branches, sometimes clustered. Involucral bracts 4, larger than adjacent leaves (7 × 5 mm). Receptacles very hairy, pedicels 0.2 mm, persistent. Plants gynodioecious. Flowers white, covered in short, moderately dense hair outside; inside hairless; calyx lobes opening in salverform fashion. Female tube 3 mm long, ovary portion 2.1 mm, calyx lobes 1.2 × 0.8 mm; hermaphrodite tube 4 mm long, ovary portion 2.2 mm, calyx lobes 2.5 × 2.0 mm. Anther dehiscence semi-latrorse. Ovary with a sparse hair-covering at summit. Fruits broad-ovoid, fleshy white, opaque 4.5 × 3.4 mm. Seeds narrow-ovoid 2 × 1.4 mm.

Similar Taxa

Pimelea sporadica is allied to P. telura of the Three Kings Islands from which it differs by its smaller stature (plants up to 400 mm cf. 1.0 m tall) and smaller leaves whose undersides that are adaxially concave or keeled

Flowering

September - April

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

October - April

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings. An attractive species that does best in a well drained, fertile soil. It should be planted in a sunny situation. Plants are intolerant of shade.

Threats

Listed by de Lange et al. (2009: N.Z.J.Bot. 47: 61–96) as Pimelea aff. tomentosa (b) (AK 130893; Surville cliffs) and awarded the status of Tax. Indet. Naturally Uncommon. Burrows (2009) has expanded the concept of this species and suggests that it is secure at North Cape but vulnerable elsewhere, again without supporting evidence. As such this species status is probably better referred to as Data Deficient until better information becomes available.

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 6 Jan 2014