Pimelea villosa

Pimelea villosa, also known as Pimelea arenaria, is a species of shrub in the family Thymelaeaceae, known in Māori as Autetaranga or Autetauranga. It is endemic to New Zealand. Its conservation status puts it at risk and declining, as determined by the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS).[2] The bark of the tree was occasionally used as traditional textiles such as ribbons or ear ornaments, however was not as commonly used as the Paper mulberry (aute) or Hoheria populnea (houhere).[3]

Pimelea villosa
Pimelea villosa in New Zealand
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Pimelea
Species:
P. villosa
Binomial name
Pimelea villosa
Synonyms

Pimelea arenaria

Description

Pimelea villosa is a sprawling shrub with hairy branches. It is found almost exclusively on sand dunes and associated areas. It possesses pointed leaves that are 5 to 15 mm long and 3 to 7mm wide. It also has white flowers and black, red, pink or white fruit.[2]

Nomenclature

This plant was for many years known as Pimelea arenaria, a name published by Allan Cunningham in 1833. However, in 2009 it was pointed out by Burrows[1]:330 that Pimelea villosa, a name proposed by Daniel Solander but not published by him, had been effectively published by James Edward Smith in 1814, and thus has priority.

In the same paper, Burrows[1] proposed to divide P. villosa into two subspecies, P. villosa subsp. villosa and P. villosa subsp. arenaria, basing the latter on Cunningham's specimens. This division remains controversial and is not accepted by some authorities.[2]

The name P. villosa was also applied illegitimately by some nineteenth century authors to an Australian plant, Pimelea longiflora.[4]

References
  1. Burrows, CJ (2009). "Genus Pimelea (Thymelaeaceae) in New Zealand 3. The taxonomic treatment of six endemic hairy-leaved species". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 47 (3): 330–338. doi:10.1080/00288250909509813.
  2. "Pimelea villosa". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  3. Neich, Roger (1996). "New Zealand Maori Barkcloth and Barkcloth Beaters". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 33: 111–158. ISSN 0067-0464.
  4. "Pimelea villosa (Turcz.) Meisn". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Retrieved 28 November 2017.
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