Genus Pimelea (Thymelaeaceae) in New Zealand 3. The taxonomic treatment of six endemic hairy‐leaved species

Abstract

Four previously recognised species are redescribed and typified. Pimelea tomentosa is a plant of open forest and forest margins in the North island and northern South island and adjacent islands. The name villosa is accepted as the first validly published specific epithet for the plant formerly known as P. arenaria; two infraspecific units are recognised, subsp. villosa and subsp. arenaria. These subspecies hybridise in some locations. Both grow on coastal sand dunes in the North island but subsp. arenaria is the only one now present in the South island. Both subspecies and their hybrids occur on the Chatham islands where plants also grow inland. Pimelea lyallii lives on coastal dunes in southern South island and Stewart island. A fourth entity, Pimelea microphylla, from the central North island volcanoes and adjacent eastern sandstone ranges, is confirmed at species rank. Two new species are described. Pimelea acra occurs on extinct volcanic hills and cliffs in North Auckland, near whangarei Heads, and on little Barrier island. Pimelea ignota is a rare plant from scrub on very infertile, strongly leached soils in northwest Nelson. lately, it has been observed in only one location and may be near extinction. Pimelea acra, with low population numbers, is vulnerable to hazards. The other species have diminished and scattered populations compared with the situation a century ago. Conservation programmes are needed for all six species.