N a t . O r d , L X X V . T H Y M E L E Æ , Juss.
Gen. I . P IM E L E A , Ba n k s et Sol.
Perianthium iufundibuliforme ; limbo 5-fido ; fauce esquamata. Stamina 2, fauce inserta,
lateralis ; stigmate capitato. N u x eorticata v. baccata.
A very large Australi.an 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,
Ferianth almost always silky, tubular, with a flat four-lobed limb, or funnel-shaped mouth with four scales. Stamens
two, inserted just inside the mouth. Ovary (often hairy) one. with a lateral style and capitate stigma. Frm'l a
utriculus enclosed in the dry or baccate perianth. (Name, myeKyj, fatness ; from the oily seeds.)
1. Pimelea longifolia. Banks et S o b ; frutex erectus, ramosus, glaberrimus, foliis 1-2 -p o llicarib u s
4 ~ y une. latis oppositis liueari-lanoeolatis oblongisve acuminatis subtus glaucescentibus nervosis floralibus
la te ovatis v. conformibus, capitulis sessilibus multifloris sericeo-villosis, periantbii tubo limbo te r longiore,
limbi laciniis oblongo-lanceolatis obtusis, staminibus exsertis, fru ctu parvo fundo periantbii incluso ovato-
oblongo integumento atro-crustaceo. B a n k s et Sol. M S S . e t Io. Sm ith in Rees’s Cyclop.
H ab. Kort.liem Islan d an d n o rth e rn parts of th e Middle Islan d . E a s t coast. B a n k s a n d Solander,
Colenso. Auckland, Sinclair. Nelson, Bidw ill.
A small erect shnib, 2-6 feet, with narrow, opposite leaves 1 -2 inches long, much larger than in any other
New Zealaud species, somewhat resembling those of a willow, always (as are the dark-coloured branches) quite
smooth on both surfaces, ofteu polished above, opake or glaucous below, with a stout midrib and evident petiole.
Flowers abundant, odorous, white, in terminal heads 1 -1 4 iuch across, nearly 4 inch long, with a slender very silky
tube, and stamens and style protruded,
2. Pimelea virgata, Yahl ; fruticulus erectus, virgatus, ramis cicatricatis profunde striatis rufo-brun-
neis, 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, periantbii tubo dense sericeo-lanato urceolato limbi laciniis late ovatis obtusis
duplo longiore, fructu majusculo, pericarpio baccato v. sicco, integumento crustáceo fusco. Fahl, Bnum.
A. R ich . Flora. A . Cunn. Prodr. P . axillaris. Ba n k s et Sol. M S S . et Ic. P . pilosa, Fahl. Passerina
pilosa, Porst. Prodr. Banksia tomentosa. F o ist. Gen.
H ab. Abundant tb ro u g b o u t th e Islan d s, B a n k s a n d Solander, etc.
A small erect dense shrub, a foot or so high. Stems silky and twiggy, with copions foliage, and small heads of
pale silky flowers. Leaves spreading, about A 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 tbe base of the perianth, which becomes fleshy and forms an eatable berry,
but often it is dry. The covering of tho seed itself is brown or black, glossy, and brittle.—The longer leaves and
larger flower are the best characters whereby to distingnish tbis from certain states a i P.prostrata, which is often erect.
3. Pimelea prostrata, Y a h l; fruticulus polymorphus, procumbens v. prostratus, rarius erectus, ramis
ascendentibus cicatricatis, ramulis foliisque sericeis glabratisve, foliis brevibus imbricatis v. remotis patulis
reeurvisve sæpius decussatis brevissime petiolatis ovatis oblongis lanceolatisve rarius obovatis coriaceis
planis concavis cariuatisve integerrimis v. obscure denticulatis | - i unc. longis, capitulis parvis 6-8-floris,
periantbii tubo dense sericeo limbi laciniis oblongis obtusis vix longiore, staminibus styloque exsertis, fructu
sæpius baccato. Fahl. A . R ich . Flor. A. Cunn. Prodr. B a n k s et Sol. M S S . et Ic.
Thymeleoe.] FLOKA OF NEW ZEALAND. 221
Y ar. fi. repens; p ro strata, subrepens, caulibus gracilibus, fobis remotis obovatis, floribus parvis. P .
p ro stra ta , Porst. Prodr. et Herb.
H ab. Th roughout tb e Islands, abundaut. B a n k s a n d Solander, etc. (Cultivated in E n g lan d .)
A most variable and extremely abundant little sbriib, 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 ? 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
and smooth on both surfaces. Floicers in small heads, ^ hich long; stamens and style generally exserted, often
considerably. Fruit 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, C um i.; fruticulus erectus v. prostratus^ ramis cicatricatis ascendentibus, ramulis
foliisque subtus dense sericeo-villosis, foliis laxis densisve decussatis patulis v. reflexis sessilibus la te ovatis
ovato-lanceolatisve obtusis rarius acutis coriaceis superne glabris nitidis opacis vel sericeis medio caualiculatis
i - 1 uuc. longis siccitate fuscis, capitulis sub-10-iioris, p erianthii tubo brevi villoso limbo longiore
laciniis late ovatis obtusis, fru ctu majusculo subbaccato. A . Cunn. in B o t. Mag. t. 32 7 0 , et Brodr. P.
villosa. B a n k s et Sol. M S S . et Ic.
PIab. N o rth e rn and IMiddle Islands, in various places, especially on saudy dunes, also in th e interior.
B ank s and Solander, etc. Chatham Islan d , Bieffenhach. N a t. name, " A ute ta rau g a,” Col. (Cultivated in
England.)
A beautiful smaU. shrub, 8 inches to 2 feet h ig h ; the branches and stem densely clothed with shining white
silky villous hafrs. Leaves generally thickly set, broader than in any other New Zealand species, aud densely silky
beneath. Fruit eaten aud bark used as tbat of the Broussonetia, whence the name “ Aute.”—Very closely allied
indeed to the P . sericea, Br., of the mountains of Tasmania, and only distinguishable by the short tube of the flower,
which is uot jointed in the middle, and by the short stamens and style. In all other respects these species exactly
resemble one another.
5. Pimelea Urvilleana, A. R ic h .; fruticulus p rostratus v. decumbens, ramis validis ascendentibus,
ramulis erectis creberrime cicatricatis dense sericeo-aullosis, foliis T - j unc. longis quadrifariam imbricatis
patulis V. recurvis sessilibus ovatis v. ovato-oblongis rariu s ovato-rotundatis obtusis v. subacutis coriaceis
aveniis glaberrimis planis coucavis carinatisve, capitulis densifloris, perianthii dense villosi tu b o limbum
cequaute v. pifiulo excedente, limbi laciniis late oblongis obtusis, antheris t i x exsertis. A . R ich . Mora.
A. Cunn. Prodr. P . quadrifaria. B a n k s et Sol. M S S . et Ic.
H ab. N o rth e rn and iMiddle Islands. N o t unfrequent on th e coasts and interior, Ba n k s a n d Solander,
etc.
A curious little prostrate shmb, easily recognized by its habit and small tbick leaves, imbricated in four rows.
They are quite smooth, \ inch long; the brandies 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 dirisions. The natives
are said to chew the stems of this (and 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 papyrifera
was formerly used for similar purposes. As a species this is distinguished mainly by the combined characters of
|)i*ostrate habit, silky branches, densely quadrifariously imbricated, coriaceous, smooth leaves; characters which P.
prostrata often assumes iu a less degree, and also P . armaria.
0. Pimelea Gnidia, I 'o r s t .; suffrutex erectus, ramis validis, ramulis cicatricatis glaberrimis puberulisve,
foliis laxe quadrifariam imbricatis suberectis pateutibus v. recurvis brevissime petiolatis ovatis subacutis
3 I