Pimelea

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Malvales

Familia: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Pimelea
Species (97 accepted): P. acra – P. actea – P. aeruginosa – P. alpina – P. ammocharis – P. angustifolia – P. argentea – P. aridula – P. axiflora – P. barbata – P. biflora – P. brachyphylla – P. bracteata – P. brevifolia – P. buxifolia – P. carnosa – P. ciliolaris – P. cinerea – P. clavata – P. cryptica – P. curviflora – P. declivis – P. drummondii – P. drupacea – P. dura – P. eremitica – P. ferruginea – P. filiformis – P. flava – P. floribunda – P. forrestiana – P. glauca – P. gnidia – P. haematostachya – P. hewardiana – P. hirta – P. hispida – P. holroydii – P. humilis – P. ignota – P. imbricata – P. lanata – P. latifolia – P. lehmanniana – P. leptospermoides – P. leucantha – P. ligustrina – P. linifolia – P. longiflora – P. longifolia – P. lyallii – P. macrostegia – P. mesoa – P. micrantha – P. microcephala – P. microphylla – P. milliganii – P. mimosa – P. nitens – P. nivea – P. notia – P. octophylla – P. orthia – P. pauciflora – P. penicillaris – P. petrophila – P. phylicoides – P. physodes – P. preissii – P. prostrata – P. pygmaea – P. rara – P. rosea – P. sericea – P. sericeo-villosa – P. sericostachya – P. serpyllifolia – P. simplex – P. spectabilis – P. spicata – P. spiculigera – P. sporadica – P. stricta – P. strigosa – P. suaveolens – P. subvillifera – P. sulphurea – P. sylvestris – P. telura – P. tinctoria – P. tomentosa – P. traversii – P. trichostachya – P. urvilleana – P. villifera – P. villosa – P. xenica
Nothospecies: P. × angulata
Name

Pimelea Banks ex Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 186. (1788) nom. cons.

Type species: Pimelea prostrata (J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.) Lam., Tabl. Encycl. 1: 31. (1791) = Pimelea laevigata Gaertn. (1788) nom. illeg.

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Aschenfeldtia F.Muell. ex Meisn.
Banksia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Calyptrostegia C.A.Mey.
Gymnococca Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
Heterolaena C.A.Mey.
Macrostegia Turcz.
Thecanthes Wikstr.
Cookia J.F.Gmel., Syst. Nat. 2: 19, 24. 1791, nom illeg. non Sonn. (1782).

References

Gaertner, J. 1788. De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum 1: 186.
de Lange, P.J., Norton, D.A., Courtney, S.P., Heenan, P.B., Barkla, J.W., Cameron, E.K., Hitchmough, R. & Townsend, A.J. 2009. Threatened and uncommon plants of New Zealand (2008 revision). New Zealand Journal of Botany 47(1): 61-96. DOI: 10.1080/00288250909509794 Open access Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2021. Pimelea in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2021 Sept. 10. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2021. Pimelea. Published online. Accessed: Sept. 10 2021.
Tropicos.org 2021. Pimelea. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 10 Sept. 2021.

Pimelea, commonly known as rice flowers, is a genus of plants belonging to the family Thymelaeaceae. There are about 150 species, including 110 in Australia and thirty six in New Zealand.

Description

Plants in the genus Pimelea are herbs or small shrubs usually with leaves arranged in opposite pairs. The leaves are usually paler on the lower surface and the petiole is usually very short. The flowers are usually arranged in groups on the ends of the branches and have no petals but four petal-like sepals and two stamens. The ovary has a single ovule and the fruit is usually a nut containing a single seed.[2]
Taxonomy and naming

The genus Pimelea was first formally described in 1788 by Joseph Gaertner from unpublished descriptions by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander. The first species Gaertner described was Pimelea laevigata, now known as Pimelea prostrata.[3][4][5][6][7]

The name Pimelea is from the Ancient Greek word pimele meaning "fat or "lard",[8] possibly referring to the oily seeds or fleshy cotyledons of riceflowers.[9]
Ecology

Some species, including P. curviflora, P. flava, P. glauca, P. linifolia, P. microcephala, P. neo-anglica, P. pauciflora, P. simplex and P. trichostachya are known to be toxic to stock and there is no known cure.[10][2][11][12]
Species

About 150 species of Pimelea have been formally described, including about 110 in Australia and 36 in New Zealand.[2] The following is a combined list of names accepted by the Australian Plant Census or the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network as of December 2021:[13][14]

Pimelea acra C.J.Burrows & de Lange (N.Z.)
Pimelea actea C.J.Burrows (N.Z.)
Pimelea aeruginosa F.Muell. (W.A.)
Pimelea alpina F.Muell. ex Meisn. - alpine riceflower (N.S.W., Vic.)
Pimelea altior F.Muell. (Qld., N.S.W.)
Pimelea amabilis (Domin) A.R.Bean (Qld.)
Pimelea ammocharis F.Muell. (W.A.)
Pimelea angustifolia R.Br. (W.A.)
Pimelea approximans A.R.Bean (Qld.)
Pimelea aquilonia Rye (Qld.)
Pimelea argentea R.Br. – silvery leaved pimelea (W.A.)
Pimelea aridula Cheeseman (N.Z.)
Pimelea avonensis Rye – (W.A.)
Pimelea axiflora F.Muell. ex Meisn. – bootlace bush (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.)
Pimelea axiflora subsp. alpina
Pimelea axiflora subsp. axiflora
Pimelea axiflora subsp. pubescens
Pimelea barbata C.J.Burrows (N.Z.)
Pimelea biflora N.A.Wakef. – matted rice flower (N.S.W.,Vic.)
Pimelea brachyphylla Benth. (W.A.)
Pimelea bracteata Threlfall (N.S.W.)
Pimelea brevifolia R.Br. (W.A.)
Pimelea brevifolia subsp. brevifolia
Pimelea brevifolia subsp. modesta
Pimelea brevistyla Rye (W.A.)
Pimelea brevistyla subsp. brevistyla
Pimelea brevistyla subsp. minor
Pimelea buxifolia Hook.f. (N.Z.)
Pimelea calcicola Rye (W.A.)
Pimelea carnosa C.J.Burrows (N.Z.)
Pimelea chlorina A.R.Bean (Qld.)
Pimelea ciliata Rye (W.A.)
Pimelea ciliata subsp. ciliata
Pimelea ciliata subsp. longituba
Pimelea ciliolaris (Threlfall) Rye (N.S.W.)
Pimelea cinerea R.Br. (Tas.)
Pimelea clavata Labill. (W.A.)
Pimelea concinna Allan (N.Z.)
Pimelea concreta F.Muell. (W.A., N.T.)
Pimelea confertiflora A.R.Bean (Qld.)
Pimelea congesta C.Moore & F.Muell. (Lord Howe Island)
Pimelea cornucopiae Vahl (Qld.)
Pimelea cracens Rye (W.A.)
Pimelea cracens subsp. cracens
Pimelea cracens subsp. glabra
Pimelea cremnophila L.M.Copel. & I.Telford (N.S.W.)
Pimelea cryptica C.J.Burrows & Enright (N.Z.)
Pimelea curviflora R.Br. – tough-barked riceflower, curved riceflower (N.S.W., Vic., S.A.)
Pimelea curviflora var. acuta
Pimelea curviflora var. curviflora
Pimelea curviflora var. divergens
Pimelea curviflora var. gracilis
Pimelea curviflora var. sericea
Pimelea curviflora var. subglabrata
Pimelea declivis C.J.Burrows (N.Z.)
Pimelea decora Domin – Flinders poppy (Qld.)
Pimelea drummondii (Turcz.) Rye (W.A.)
Pimelea drupacea Labill. - cherry riceflower (Vic., Tas.)
Pimelea dura C.J.Burrows (N.Z.)
Pimelea elongata (N.S.W., Qld., S.A.)
Pimelea erecta (W.A.)
Pimelea eyrei (W.A.)
Pimelea eremitica – roimata o tohe (N.Z.)
Pimelea ferruginea (W.A.)
Pimelea filifolia (N.T.)
Pimelea filiformis (Tas.)
Pimelea flava - yellow riceflower, diosma riceflower (N.S.W., Vic. S.A.)
Pimelea flava subsp. dichotoma
Pimelea flava subsp. flava
Pimelea floribunda (W.A.)
Pimelea forrestiana (W.A.)
Pimelea fugiens (Qld.)
Pimelea gigandra (Qld., N.S.W.)
Pimelea gilgiana (W.A.)
Pimelea glauca - smooth riceflower (N.S.W., Qld., Tas., S.A.)
Pimelea gnidia (N.Z.)
Pimelea graniticola (W.A.)
Pimelea haematostachya (Qld.)
Pimelea halophila (W.A.)
Pimelea hewardiana - forked riceflower (Vic., S.A.)
Pimelea hirta (N.Z.)
Pimelea hirsuta (N.S.W.)
Pimelea hirsuta subsp. elliptifolia
Pimelea hirsuta subsp. hirsuta
Pimelea hispida - bristly pimelea (W.A.)
Pimelea holroydii (W.A.)
Pimelea humilis - common riceflower (N.S.W., Vic., Tas., S.A.)
Pimelea ignota – pinatoro (N.Z.)
Pimelea imbricata (W.A.)
Pimelea imbricata var. imbricata
Pimelea imbricata var. major
Pimelea imbricata var. petraea
Pimelea imbricata var. piligera
Pimelea imbricata var. simulans
Pimelea interioris (N.T.)
Pimelea lanata (W.A.)
Pimelea latifolia (N.S.W., Qld.)
Pimelea lehmanniana (W.A.)
Pimelea lehmanniana subsp. lehmanniana
Pimelea lehmanniana subsp. nervosa
Pimelea leiophylla (Tas.)
Pimelea leptospermoides (Qld.)
Pimelea leptospermoides subsp. bowmanii
Pimelea leptospermoides subsp. leptospermoides
Pimelea leptostachya (Qld.)
Pimelea leucantha (W.A.)
Pimelea ligustrina - tall riceflower (N.S.W., Qld., Vic., Tas., S.A.)
Pimelea ligustrina subsp. ciliata
Pimelea ligustrina subsp. hypericina
Pimelea ligustrina subsp. ligustrina
Pimelea linifolia - slender riceflower (N.S.W., Qld., S.A., Vic., Tas.)
Pimelea linifolia subsp. caesia
Pimelea linifolia subsp. collina
Pimelea linifolia subsp. linifolia
Pimelea linifolia subsp. linoides'
Pimelea longiflora (W.A.)
Pimelea longiflora subsp. longiflora
Pimelea longifolia - long-leaved pimelea, taranga (N.Z.)
Pimelea lyallii (N.Z.)
Pimelea macrostegia (S.A.)
Pimelea mesoa (N.Z.)
Pimelea micrantha (N.S.W., Vic., W.A., S.A.)
Pimelea microcephala - mallee riceflower or shrubby riceflower (N.S.W., Qld., Vic., N.T., S.A., W.A.)
Pimelea microcephala subsp. glabra
Pimelea microcephala subsp. microcephala
Pimelea microphylla (N.Z.)
Pimelea milliganii (Tas.)
Pimelea mimosa (N.Z.)
Pimelea mollis (Qld.)
Pimelea neo-anglica - poison pimelea, scanty riceflower (N.S.W., Qld.)
Pimelea neokyrea (W.A.)
Pimelea nitens (N.Z.)
Pimelea nivea (Tas.)
Pimelea notia (N.Z.)
Pimelea octophylla - woolly riceflower, downy riceflower (Vic., S.A.)
Pimelea oreophila (N.Z.)
Pimelea orthia (N.Z.)
Pimelea pagophila (Vic.)
Pimelea pauciflora – scanty riceflower, scrub kurrajong (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.)
Pimelea pelinos (W.A.)
Pimelea pendens (W.A.)
Pimelea penicillaris (N.S.W., Qld., S.A., N.T.)
Pimelea petrophila (S.A.)
Pimelea phylicoides (Vic., S.A.)
Pimelea physodes - Qualup bell (W.A.)
Pimelea plurinervia (Qld.)
Pimelea poppelwellii – Poppelwells pimelea (N.Z.)
Pimelea preissii (W.A.)
Pimelea prostrata – pinatoro, New Zealand daphne, Strathmore weed (N.Z.)
Pimelea pseudolyallii (N.Z.)
Pimelea punicea (W.A.)
Pimelea pygmaea (Tas.)
Pimelea rara – summer pimelea (W.A.)
Pimelea rosea – rose banjine (W.A.)
Pimelea rosea subsp. annelsii
Pimelea rosea subsp. rosea
Pimelea rupestris (Qld., N.S.W.)
Pimelea sanguinea (W.A.)
Pimelea sericea (Tas.)
Pimelea sericostachya (Qld.)
Pimelea sericostachya subsp. amabilis
Pimelea sericostachya subsp. sericostachya
Pimelea sericeovillosa – cushion pimelea (N.Z.)
Pimelea serpyllifolia - thyme riceflower (N.S.W., Vic., Tas., W.A., S.A.)
Pimelea serpyllifolia subsp. occidentalis
Pimelea serpyllifolia subsp. serpyllifolia
Pimelea sessilis (W.A.)
Pimelea simplex – desert riceflower (N.S.W., Qld., Vic., S.A.)
Pimelea simplex subsp. continua
Pimelea simplex subsp. simplex
Pimelea spectabilis – bunjong (W.A.)
Pimelea spicata (N.S.W.)
Pimelea spiculigera (W.A.)
Pimelea spiculigera var. spiculigera
Pimelea spiculigera var. thesioides
Pimelea spinescens - spiny riceflower (Vic.)
Pimelea spinescens subsp. pubiflora
Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens
Pimelea sporadica (N.Z.)
Pimelea stricta (N.S.W., Vic., Tas., S.A.)
Pimelea strigosa (N.S.W., Qld.)
Pimelea suaveolens – scented banjine (W.A.)
Pimelea suaveolens subsp. flava
Pimelea suaveolens subsp. suaveolens
Pimelea subvillifera (W.A.)
Pimelea sulphurea – yellow banjine (W.A.)
Pimelea suteri (N.Z.)
Pimelea sylvestris (W.A.)
Pimelea telura – three kings pimelea (N.Z.)
Pimelea tinctoria (W.A.)
Pimelea tomentosa (N.Z.)
Pimelea traversii (N.Z.)
Pimelea treyvaudii – grey riceflower (N.S.W., Vic.)
Pimelea trichostachya (N.S.W., Qld., Vic., W.A., S.A., N.T.)
Pimelea umbricata (Qld.)
Pimelea urvilleana subsp. nesica (N.Z.)
Pimelea urvilleana subsp. urvilleana - pinatoro (N.Z.)
Pimelea venosa – Bolivia Hill pimelea (N.S.W.)
Pimelea villifera (W.A.)
Pimelea villosa – sand daphne, autetaranga, toroheke, sand pimelea (N.Z.)
Pimelea williamsonii – Williamson's riceflower (Vic., S.A.)
Pimelea xenica – pinatoro (N.Z.)

References

"Pimelea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
Harden, Gwen J. "Genus Pimelea". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
"Pimelea". APNI. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
Gaertner, Joseph (1788). De fructibus et seminibus plantarum (Volume 1). Stuttgart. p. 186. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
"Pimelea". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
"Pimelea Gaertn". Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
"Pimelea". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 318.
"Pimelea spectabilis Lindl". The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
Gordon, Russell J.; Hungerford, Natasha L.; Laycock, Bronwyn; Fletcher, Mary T. (October 2020). "A review on Pimelea poisoning of livestock". Toxicon. 186: 46–57. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.07.023.
"Understanding Pimelea poisoning of cattle" (PDF). State of Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
"Strathmore Weed". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
"Banksia hirta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
"Pimelea". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 22 April 2018.