The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

I'm interested in the identity of this Pimelea that grows at Arai Te Uru (South Head), near where Hebe speciosa occurs. It has a distinctly upright growth form (like Pimelea orthia in a windy situation) and doesn't have the fineness of the leaves of Pimelea xenica. There was a reasonable amount of variation between plants. Any opinions on the likely species would be welcome.

Looks like P. orthia, but could also be P. xenica

Thanks Mike. Is it mainly down to leaf size and overall stature to differentiate them ? I've seen both species before, and my overall impression is that these plants generally conformed to Pimelea orthia (especially because of the leaf size and extent of branching). However, the difference between the two species seems a little vague. I've thought of P. xenica as a more sparsely-branched, gracile number, as opposed to the denser, more robust appearance of P. orthia. I won't record anything for distribution data based on the ambiguity.

Hi Philip, that is broadly correct. The definitive feature of P. xenica is the inrolled dead leaves and stomata visible (with hand lens) on both leaf surfaces. Unfortunately these are shed early, particularly in exposed plants and growth habit and leaf size are the only characters that can be used in those instances. It also hybridises with other nearby species (as do nearly all Pimelea). P. sporadica is also a species that is difficult to distinguish from P. xenica and P. orthia without examination under a hand lens