The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Pimelea sericeovillosa subsp. alta

Etymology

Pimelea: from the Greek pimele, referring to the seeds

Common Name(s)

Pimelea

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 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon
2004 - At Risk - Naturally Uncommon

Qualifiers

2012 - RR, Sp
2009 - DP, RR

Authority

Pimelea sericeovillosa subsp. alta C.J.Burrows

Family

Thymelaeaceae

Brief Description

Low growing sprawling shrub with hairy twigs bearing pairs of hairy pointed leaves, hairy white flowers inhabiting the Pisa Range and possibly nearby. Leaf dimensions unknown, hairs denser on underside. Fruit unknown.

Flora Category

Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Synonyms

None first described in 2011

Distribution

Endemic. New Zealand: South Island, Pisa Range

Habitat

Subalpine to alpine. Usually in open fell-field on mountain tops, ridge crests and in open stonefields. occasionally found at lower levels in short short-tussock grassland.

Features

A low, much-branched, dull-green loose cushion-forming shrublet to 50 × 250 mm. with brown, clustered, appressed, leafy, densely villous young branchlets, and with older, gnarled, leafless stems often visible (these often leafless and glabrous, dark brown to black, often partly buried by windblown silt or sand). Internode length 0.3-0.6 mm. Branching mainly sympodial and radiating from a stout main stem up to 15 mm in diameter. Node buttresses lunate, dark brown, masked by hairs on young stems, not prominent on leafless branchlets. Leaves decussate, ascending, imbricate, sessile or with very short petioles (0.2 mm). Lamina medium to pale green, elliptic to oblong, 2.2-4.0 × 1.0-1.3 mm, adaxially concave, mid-vein not evident, abaxial surface very densely covered with straight, grey-white, moderately long hairs; adaxial surface sparsely hairy, sometimes glabrous, obtuse, base cuneate, stomata on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Inflorescences terminal, with 1 or 2, sometimes 3, flowers. Involucral bracts 4, the same size as, or slightly wider than adjacent leaves (2.3 × 1.5 mm). Receptacle usually with abundant long hairs. Plants gynodioecious. Flowers 1-2-3 per inflorescence, white, on very short (0.1 mm) pedicels, very hairy outside, inside hairless. Female tube 2.5 mm long, ovary portion 2 mm, calyx lobes 1.0-1.2 × 0.5 mm; hermaphrodite tube 3-4 mm long, ovary portion 2 mm, calyx lobes 1.5 × 0.8-1.0 mm. Anther dehiscence introrse. Ovary with dense short hairs on summit, less dense to half way down. Fruits not seen.

Similar Taxa

Resembling subsp. sericeovillosa from which it differs by its allopatric distribution, more open (loose) cushion forming growth habit, dull-green colour, and leave investiture comprised solely of long straight hairs

Flowering

October - January

Flower Colours

White

Fruiting

Unknown

Propagation Technique

Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings but difficult to maintain in cultivation. Prefers a moist free-draining soil, planted in full sun. Dislikes humidity, shade and poor drainage.

Threats

See comments about the "Conservation Status" opinions and their validity as offered by Burrows (2011) under the Fact Sheet for Pimelea sericeovillosa subsp. sericeovillosa. As Pimelea (d) (CHR 472016; Pisa) Pimelea sericeovillosa subsp. alta was listed by de Lange et al. (2009; p. 91) as Taxonomically Indeterminate/Naturally Uncommon. This assessment may still be appropriate as it was based on critical field data obtained by Department of Conservation Staff surveying the Pisa Range. However, due to the recircumscription of P. sericeovillosa by Burrows (2011) and comments regarding possible introgression between subsp. alta and P. aridulla and P. oreophila (comments which seem to be solely based on limited observations), this assessment may need to change.

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 6 Jan 2014