Pimelea pelinos is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae and is endemic to a small area in the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect, straggling shrub with narrowly egg-shaped leaves, the narrower end towards the base, and erect clusters of cream-coloured, unisexual flowers surrounded by 2 or 4 egg-shaped, leaf-like involucral bracts.
| Pimelea pelinos | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Thymelaeaceae |
| Genus: | Pimelea |
| Species: | P. pelinos
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pimelea pelinos | |
Description
editPimelea pelinos is an erect, straggling shrub that typically grows to a height of 30–60 cm (12–24 in), and has a single glabrous stem at the base. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 2.5–11.5 mm (0.098–0.453 in) long and 0.8–2.5 mm (0.031–0.098 in) wide on a petiole 0.2–0.5 mm (0.0079–0.0197 in) long. The flowers are arranged on short side branches on a peduncle 0.5–3.5 mm (0.020–0.138 in) long surrounded by 2 or 4 egg-shaped, sessile, leaf-like involucral bracts 3.3–6 mm (0.13–0.24 in) long. The flowers are cream-coloured and densely hairy on the outside. Male flowers have a floral tube 2–3.2 mm (0.079–0.126 in) long, the sepals 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long, female flowers a floral tube about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long, the sepals about 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long. Flowering occurs in June and July.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editPimelea pelinos was first formally described in 1989 by Barbara Lynette Rye and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected east of Scaddan in 1988.[3][5] The specific epithet (pelinos) means "of clay or mud", referring to the habitat of this species.[3]
Distribution and habitat
editThis pimelea grows around salt lakes in sandy clay, and is only known from near the type location in the Mallee bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[2][3][4]
Conservation status
editPimelea pelinos is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Pimelea pelinos". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ a b c "Pimelea pelinos". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c d Rye, Barbara L. (1989). "A new species of Pimelea (Thymelaeaceae) from south-western Australia". Nuytsia. 7 (1): 59–62. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ a b Rye, Barbara L. Busby, John R. (ed.). "Pimelea pelinos". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ "Pimelea pelinos". APNI. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 5 March 2023.