Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Pimelea ignota C.J.Burrows & Courtney in Burrows, New Zealand J. Bot. 47: 347-350 (2009)
Etymology:
As cited in Burrows(2009): From Latin "ignotus" (unknown, over-looked) referring to the previous lack of recognition of this distinctive but rare plant
 Description

A small to medium-sized, erect to sprawling shrub, 20-30 cm high, with clustered lateral branches. Prone stems often longer. On young branchlets bands of sparse, moderately long hair usually extend the length of the internode; internodes 0.3-2 mm long; older stems glabrate to glabrous, grey-brown. Node buttresses smooth, dark brown, extending the length of the internode, conspicuous on leafless stems. Leaves decussate, loosely imbricate, coriaceous, crowded on upper branchlets, on short (0.5-1 mm) reddish petioles. Mature leaves glabrous, young leaves usually with a few short hairs at tip. lamina 8-12 × 4-5.5 mm, broad-elliptic to broad-ovate, medium green, flat or adaxially concave, margin thickened, slightly upturned, midvein evident but not prominent abaxially, lateral veins obscure; obtuse, acute or slightly acuminate, sometimes with a small apicula, base cuneate. Stomata on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Inflorescences terminal on branchlets, up to 4-flowered (from count of old pedicels). Involucral bracts 4, similar in size to adjacent leaves (7.2-8 × 4.5-5 mm). Plants probably gynodioecious. Flowers white, on short pedicels (0.3 mm), tube and calyx lobes hairy on outside, inside hairless. ♀ tube 6 mm long, ovary portion 4 mm, calyx lobes 2.4 × 1.3 mm. No information is available on ☿ flowers or anthers. Ovary with relatively sparse hair at summit. Fruits ovoid, fleshy, white, opaque 6.2 × 3.5 mm (estimate). Seeds ovoid, 3 × 1.6 mm, thin crest. Flowering time spring-early summer.

Features of floral biology so far are known from only 3 female flowers, each from different parents; 2 flowers contained nearly mature seeds. Judged by relative positions of old receptacles, flowering occurs infrequently.

[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.; 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. [Nationally Critical]
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. [Nationally Critical]