Class
Family
Genus
Classification
Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Pimelea acra C.J.Burrows & de Lange in Burrows, New Zealand J. Bot. 47: 342-347 (2009)
Etymology:
Description
A medium-sized, erect to suberect, much-branched, compact or spreading shrub, up to 45 cm tall. Young branchlets usually densely clad in fine, appressed hair; internode length 2 mm or less; older stems glabrate to glabrous, greyish-brown to dark grey. Node buttresses short (0.3 mm) lunate, glabrous, dark brown, hidden by hair on young stems, moderately prominent on leafless stems. Leaves decussate, on short (0.3-1 mm), often red petioles, ascendant, becoming patent, not persistent; lamina 5-7 × 2-2.5 mm, medium green, ovate to elliptic, usually slightly keeled, uniform in size, acute, base cuneate; glabrous adaxially, with sparse or sometimes moderately dense hair abaxially, mainly on midvein, margins, and tip. Midvein prominent abaxially, lateral veins not evident. Stomata usually only on adaxial side of leaf; some individuals have a few abaxial stomata.
Inflorescences terminal on branchlets, 4-8-flowered. Involucral bracts 4, similar in size to or wider than adjacent leaves (6-10 × 3-4 mm). Receptacle with short, dense hair. Plants gynodioecious. Flowers white, on short pedicels (0.5 mm), often circumscissile, hairy on outside, inside hairless or sometimes with a few hairs on calyx lobes or in tube. ♀ tube 3.5 mm long, ovary portion 2.5 mm, calyx lobes 2.2 × 1.7 mm ascendant or opening in salverform fashion; ☿ tube 5 mm long, ovary portion 2.3 mm, calyx lobes 3 × 2 mm. Anther filaments inserted at mouth of tube; anther dehiscence semi-latrorse. Ovary with cluster of short hair at summit. Fruits broad-ovoid, fleshy, red, 5×4 mm. Seeds ovoid 3.6 x 2.2 mm. Flowering time winter-spring.
[Reproduced from Burrows (2009, New Zealand J. Bot. 47: 325-354) with permission from The Royal Society of New Zealand.]
Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
Bibliography
Burrows, C.J. 2009: Genus Pimelea (Thymelaeaceae) in New Zealand 3. The taxonomic treatment of six endemic hairy-leaved species
. New Zealand Journal of Botany 47: 325–354.
de Lange, P.J.; Norton, D.A.; Heenan, P.B.; Courtney, S.P.; Molloy, B.P.J.; Ogle, C.C.; Rance, B.D. 2004: Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42(1): 45–76. [as Pimelea (b) (AK 235356; Mt. Manaia)]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Naturally Uncommon]
