Pimelea prostrata

Pimelea prostrata, commonly known as Strathmore weed, New Zealand Daphne, and Pinatoro (Māori) is a species of small shrub, of the family Thymelaeaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has small white flowers and blue green leaves.[2][3]

Pimelea prostrata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Thymelaeaceae
Genus:	Pimelea
Species:	P. prostrata
Binomial name
Pimelea prostrata Willd.[1]
Subspecies
Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata Pimelea prostrata subsp. seismica Pimelea prostrata subsp. thermalis Pimelea prostrata subsp. vulcanica Pimelea prostrata subsp. Ventosa

Description

Pimelea prostrata is a low growing Prostrate shrub. It has blue green leaves and small white flowers.[1] Its stems range from 30 to 60 cm long, depending on the variety.[4]

• Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata has 30cm long stems and yellowish-brown branchlets.

Classification

Pimelea prostrata has five subspecies:

Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata, Pimelea prostrata subsp. seismica, Pimelea prostrata subsp. thermalis, Pimelea prostrata subsp. vulcanica and Pimelea prostrata subsp. Ventosa.[4]

Etymology

Pimelea is the shortened version of the greek: Pimeleoides, which means "resembling Pimelea," a genus in the family Thymelaeaceae, prostrata describes the way in which it grows; Prostrate lying flat on the ground.[3]

Toxins

Like many species of Pimelea, it is poisonous to animals, particularly horses. It was originally used as a source of the toxin prostratin, which can serve as a tumor-inhibiting agent.[2]

References

1. "Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
2. "Strathmore Weed". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
3. "Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
4. "Flora search results". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2020-12-23.