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