Pimelea tomentosa
Family
Thymelaeaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
PIMTOM
Chromosome number
2n = 36
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: PD
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable | Qualifiers: PD
2004 | Serious Decline
Brief description
Shrub with erect hairy branches bearing pairs of pointed green thin leaves that are hairy underneath, hairy white flowers and black fruit inhabiting the south to the northern South Island. Leaves 15-25mm long by 3-5mm wide, widest towards base. Flowers cause stem to branch.
Distribution
Endemic to New Zealand, occurring throughout the North Island and northern South Island.
Habitat
Open cliff tops, in scrub, frost flats, track sides and other seral habitats.
Features
An erect, grey-green, leafy shrub up to 1 m tall. Branches are slender and straight, with prominent leaf scars. Bark orange-brown. Young branchlets have whitish hairs. The grey-green, soft lance-shaped leaves are up to 25 mm long, with pale silky hairs on their undersides. The black fleshy fruits are very conspicuous, terminating the branch ends wherever flowers have been present.
Similar taxa
Pimelea prostrata is a common component of coastal cliffs and shrubland vegetation. It has several variable forms but the leaves are smaller (3 to 6 byƒn1 to 3 mm) than of P. tomentosa, its habit prostrate to sprawling and it has smaller, less conspicuous white fleshy fruits. Sand daphne (Pimelea arenaria) has a similar habit but only occurs in dunes and dune hollows, has shorter, more rounded leaves than P. tomentosa and smaller red fruits.
Flowering
Flowering specimens may be seen throughout the year.
Flower colours
White, Yellow
Fruiting
Fruiting specimens may be seen throughout the year.
Propagation technique
Very easy to grow from fresh fruit and semi-hardwood cuttings. This species forms an attractive small shrub and is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and conditions from drought prone sites to frosty situations. It does best in infertile soils.
Threats
Habitat loss through development, land clearance, succession, track maintenance and competition with weeds.
Etymology
pimelea: Pimeleoides means “resembling Pimelea’’, a genus in the family Thymelaeaceae (Greek, -oides = resembling, like).
Taxonomic notes
New Zealand Pimelea urgently require a full taxonomic revision using modern techniques. The treatments of Burrows (2009a, b et seq.) offer a useful foundation for further revision. Luckily Pimelea tomentosa is a well marked species and is not likely to require taxonomic adjustment.
Attribution
Fact Sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange 1 August 2003. Description modified from Allan (1961) but see also Burrows (2009)
References and further reading
Allan, H.H. 1961: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. I. Government Printer, Wellington.
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.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Pimelea tomentosa Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/pimelea-tomentosa/ (Date website was queried)