Pimelea prostrata, commonly known as Strathmore weed, New Zealand Daphne, and Pinātoro (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 | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Thymelaeaceae |
Genus: | Pimelea |
Species: | P. prostrata
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Binomial name | |
Pimelea prostrata Willd.[1]
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Description
editPimelea 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
editPimelea prostrata has five subspecies:[4]
- Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata
- Pimelea prostrata subsp. seismica
- Pimelea prostrata subsp. thermalis
- Pimelea prostrata subsp. ventosa
- Pimelea prostrata subsp. vulcanica
Etymology
editPimelea 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
editLike 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
edit- ^ a b "Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Strathmore Weed". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
- ^ a b "Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
- ^ a b "Flora search results". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 2020-12-23.