Genus Pimelea(Thymelaeaceae) in New Zealand 4. The taxonomic treatment of ten endemic abaxially hairy-leaved species

Abstract

Three established procumbent species are redescribed – Pimelea suteri (on ultramafic rocks in Nelson–Marlborough and western Southland), Pimelea pseudolyallii (montane to low alpine in Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago) and Pimelea oreophila (montane to alpine, widespread in the South Island and some central North Island sites) with subspp. oreophila, lepta, hetera and ephaistica. Seven new species include Pimelea mesoa, a small, semi-upright to procumbent shrub (with subspp. mesoa on basin floors in central Marlborough and north Canterbury and macra in tall tussock in one montane to low alpine site in northwest Nelson). Pimelea dura and Pimelea notia are small appressed shrublets on basin floors in mid-Canterbury and montane–alpine in central Otago, respectively. Two larger, upright species are Pimelea declivis (on low, eastern limestone hills, Marlborough to Canterbury) and Pimelea cryptica (sandstone near sea level, around Wellington City). Pimelea nitens has two decumbent subspecies (nitens in western Nelson and Marlborough, on sandstone and aspera in eastern Nelson on ultramafic rocks). Pimelea hirta inhabits North Island sites from the Raukumara to Ruahine ranges. Hybrid influences are profound among these taxa.