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N a t . O e d . LXXV. THYMELEÆ, Juss.
Gen. I. PIMELEA, Banks et Sol.
Periant/imm infundibuliforme; bmbo 5-fido; fauce esqnamata. Stajnina 2, fauce inserta. Slylus
lateralis ; stigmate capitato. Nux corticata v. baccata.
A very large Australian and Tasmanian genus, whose species are extremely difficult to define. They abound
on all the coasts, especially of New Zealand, forming small or large shrubs, easily recognized by their decussate
leaves, aud very tough bark, used for cordage, paper, etc. Flowers usually white, and collected into terminal heads.
Perianth almost always silky, tubular, with a flat four-lobed limb, or funnel-shaped mouth with four scales. Stamens
two, inserted just inside the mouth. Omry (often hairy) one, with a lateral style and capitate stigma. Fruit a
utriculus enclosed in the dry or baccate perianth. (Name, in¡xOi.y¡, fatness ; from the oily seeds.)
1. Pimelea longifolia. Banks et Sol.; frutex erectus, ramosus, glaberrimus, foliis I-2-pollicaribus
unc. latis oppositis lineari-lanceolatis oblongisve acuminatis subtus glaucescentibus nervosis floralibus
late ovatis v. couformibus, capitulis sessilibus multifloris sericeo-rtllosis, perianthii tubo limbo ter longiore,
limbi laciniis oblongo-lanceolatis obtusis, staminibus exsertis, fructu parvo fundo períantliii incluso ovato-
oblongo integumento atro-crustaceo. Banks et Sol. MSS. et lo. Smith in Rees’s Cyclop.
Ha b . Northern Island and northern parts of the Middle Island. East coast. Banks and Solander,
Colenso. Auckland, Sinclair. Nelson, Bidioill.
A small erect shrub, 2-6 feet, with narrow, opposite leaves 1-2 inches long, much larger than in any other
New Zealand species, somewhat resembling those of a willow, always (as are the dark-coloured branches) quite
smooth on both surfaces, often polished above, opake or glaucous below, with a stout midrib and evident petiole.
Flowers abundant, odorous, white, in terminal heads 1-14 inch across, nearly 4 inch long, with a slender very silky
tube, and stainens and style protruded.
2. Pimelea Yahl; fruticulus erectus, virgatus, ramis cicatricatis profunde striatis rufo-bruniieis,
ramulis sericeis v. glabratis, foliis (f unc.) subconfertis brevissime petiolatis lineari- v. oblongo-lanceolatis
acutis obtusisve subtus pallidioribus sericeis glabratis glaberrimisve floralibus conformibus, capitulis
parvis sessilibus sub-8-floris, perianthii tubo dense sericeo-lanato urceolato limbi laciniis late ovatis obtusis
duplo longiore, fructu majusculo, pericarpio baccato v. sicco, integumento crustáceo fusco. Fahl, Bnum.
A. Rich. Flora. A. Cunn. Prodr. P. axillaris. Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic. P. pilosa, Vahl. Passerina
pilosa, Forst. Prodr. Banksia tomentosa, Forst. Gen.
Ha b . Abundant throughout the Islands, Banks and Solander, etc.
A small erect dense shrub, a foot or so high. Stems silky and twiggy, with copious foliage, and small heads of
pale silky flowers. Leaves spreading, ahout f inch long, rarely an inch, generally glabrous above, sometimes below
too, but often very silky with long hairs. Flowers 4 inch long; tube swelling below; divisions broad, obtuse.
Fruit a small obovate nut, enclosed in the base of the perianth, which becomes fleshy and forms an eatable berry,
but often it is dry. The covering of the seed itself is brown or black, glossy, and biittle.—Tlie longer leaves and
larger flower are the best characters whereby to distmguish this from certain states oí P .prosirata, wliich is often erect.
3. Pimelea prostrata, Yahl; fruticulus polymorplius, procumbens v. prostratus, rarius erectus, ramis
ascendentibus cicatricatis, ramulis foliisque sericeis glabratisve, foliis brevibus imbricatis v. remotis patulis
recurvisve sæpius decussatis brevissime petiolatis ovatis oblongis lanceolatisve rarius obovatis coriaceis
planis concavis carinatisve integerrimis v. obscure denticulatis 4~4 unc. longis, capitulis parvis 6- 8-iloris,
perianthii tubo dense sericeo limbi laciniis oblongis obtusis vix longiore, staminibus styloque exsertis, fructu
sæpius baccato. Vahl. A. Rich. Flor. A. Cunn. Prodr. Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic.
Yar. (3. repens; prostrata, subrepens, caulibus gracilibus, foliis remotis obovatis, floribus parvis, P.
prostrata, Forst. Frodr. et Herb.
H a b . Throughout the Islands, abundant. Banks and Solander, etc. (Cultivated in England.)
A most variable and extremely abundant httle shrub, differing from P. virgata in the habitually prostrate
mode of growth, small size of foliage, inflorescence, and short tube of the flower. Stems 4-6 inches to 2 feet long,
and branches usually silky. Leaves 4 inch long on the average, often imbricated in opposite pairs, and forming a
four-sided branch, at others loose, spreading or reflexed, flat or concave, sometimes very coriaceous, keeled below
aud smooth on both surfaces. Flowers in small heads, 4 inch long; stamens and style generally exserted, often
considerably. F'ldt a white beiTy.—-Large erect states of this can hardly be distinguished from P. virgata, those
with coriaceous, smooth, decussate leaves from P. Ui'villeana, and those with very silky ones from P. arenaria.
Others are smooth and erect and coriaceous-leaved, like P. Gnidia.
4. Pimelea arenaria, Cunn.; fruticulus erectus v. prostratus, ramis cicatricatis ascendentibus, ramulis
foliisque subtus dense sericeo-villosis, foliis laxis densisve decussatis patulis v. reflexis sessilibus late ovatis
ovato-lanceolatisve obtusis rarius acutis coriaceis superne glabris nitidis opacis vel sericeis medio caualicu-
laiis 4 ~ t RRC. longis siccitate fuscis, capitulis sub-lO-floris, perianthii tubo brevi villoso limbo longiore
laciniis late ovatis obtusis, fructu majusculo subbaccato. A. Cunn. in Bot. Mag. t. 8270, et Prodr. P.
villosa. Banks et Sol. 3iSS. et Ic.
H a b . Northern and Middle Islands, in various places, especially on sandy dunes, also in the interior.
Banks and Solander, etc. Chatham Island, Bieffenhach. Nat. name, “ Aute tarauga," Col. (Cultivated in
England.)
A beautiful small shrub, 8 inches to 2 feet high; the branches and stem densely clothed with shining white
silky villous haii-s. Leaves generally thickly set, broader than in any other New Zealand species, and densely silky
beneath. Fruit eaten and bark used as that of the Broussonetia, whence the name “ Aute.”—Yery closely allied
indeed to the P. sencea, Br., of the mountains of Tasmama, and only distinguishable by the short tube of the flower,
which is not jointed in the middle, and by the short stamens aud style. In all other respects these species exactly
resemble one another.
5. Pimelea Urvilleana, A. Rich.; fruticulus prostratus v. decumbens, ramis validis ascendentibus,
ramulis erectis creberrime cicatricatis dense sericeo-villosis, foliis A - j unc. longis quadrifariam imbricatis
patulis V. recurvis sessilibus ovatis v. ovato-oblongis rarius ovato-rotundatis obtusis v. subacutis coriaceis
aveniis glaberrimis planis concavis carinatisve, capitulis densifioris, perianthii dense villosi tubo limbiim
cequante v. paulo excedente, limbi laciniis late oblongis obtusis, antheris Hx exsertis. A. Rich. Flora.
A, Cunn. Prodr. P. quadrifaria. Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic.
H a b . Northern aud IMiddle Islauds. Not unfrequent on the coasts and interior. Banks and Solander,
etc.
A curious little prostrate shrub, easily recognized by its habit and small thick leaves, imbricated in four rows.
They are quite smooth, 4 inch loug; the branches that bear them are densely silky, and rough below, with the
numerous scars of fallen leaves. The flowers are small, with a short tube and rather broad divisions. The natives
are said to chew the stems of this (aud probably otlier) species, to separate the wood from the bark, which latter is
afterwards beaten into a pulp, and a cloth made from it, for the top-knots of the chiefs. The Broussonetia papyrfera
was formerly used for similar purposes. As a species this is distinguished mainly by the combined characters of
prostrate habit, silky branches, densely quadrifariously imbricated, coriaceous, smooth leaves; characters which P.
prostrata often assumes iu a less degree, and also P. arenaria.
6. Pimelea Gnidia, Eorst.; sufb-utex erectus, ramis validis, ramulis cicatricatis glaberrimis puberulisve,
foliis laxe quadrifariam imbricatis suberectis patentibus v. recurvis brevissime petiolatis ovalis subacutis
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