Pimelea axiflora, commonly known as bootlace bush,[2] is a small shrub in the family
Thymelaeaceae and is
endemic to Australia. It is a small shrub with whitish flowers on mostly smooth stems.
Description
Pimelea axiflora is a small
dioecious shrub 0.2–3 m (8 in – 9 ft 10 in) high with smooth stems or occasionally hairy. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs are mostly linear or narrowly elliptic, upper surface mid-green, underside paler, 5–60 mm (0.20–2.36 in) long, 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 in) wide on a
petiole 3 mm (0.12 in) long. The leaves are green, smooth and leaf margins mostly recurved. The
inflorescence consists of a cluster of 2-10 white flowers in leaf axils with little or no stalk. The male flowers are larger, 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long and female 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long. The 2-4 flower
bracts are usually oval shaped and 1.5–7 mm (0.059–0.276 in) long and 1–2.5 mm (0.039–0.098 in) wide. The green fruit are 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy
Pimelea axiflora was first formally described in 1854 by
Carl Meisner and the description was published in Linnaea: ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde.[4][5]
P. axiflora subsp. F.Muell. ex Meisn. axiflora, it has soft leaves 10–75 mm (0.39–2.95 in) long, flowers thickly covered with hairs on outside near petiole, bracts usually hairy on outside. Flowering occurs from June to December. In
Tasmania it is restricted to King Island. In
New South Wales it grows on the coast and ranges, south of the
Budawang National Park to
Braidwood. A single recording north of
Cooma and rare in the
Snowy Mountains. This subspecies grows in wetter locations as an understory shrub in eucalypt scrubland and near streams.[6][7]
P. axiflora subsp. subsp. alpina (
Benth.) Threlfall, commonly known as alpine bootlace bush,[8] is a small shrub to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high, sometimes semi-prostrate, smooth stems with leaf scars. The leaves are smooth, straight, leathery, 0.3–1.8 cm (0.12–0.71 in) long, 1–8 mm (0.039–0.315 in) wide and smooth bracts, 2-5 flowers in each cluster, moderate to infrequently hairy externally in
montane locations. Male flowers are 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long, female 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long and the bracts are brown, smooth and usually 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long. This species grows at higher altitudes in the
Snowy Mountains in open heath, rocky sites, woodland and herb and grass fields. Flowering occurs from November to March.[6][9]
P. axiflora subsp. pubescensRye, commonly known as Bungonia rice-flower,[8] is a dioecious shrub to 3 m (9.8 ft) high, stems either smooth or hairy, new stem growth with hairs 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The petiole 3 mm (0.12 in) long, underside of leaves hairy, 0.5–6 cm (0.20–2.36 in) long and 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 in) wide, linear to narrowly oval, margins curled under. The upper leaf surface usually smooth and secondary veins on underside obvious. The female flowers are 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, male 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long, 2-10 white flowers in each cluster in leaf axils, 2-4 bracts 2–7 mm (0.079–0.276 in) long and stalk more or less absent. Fruit are green and about 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long. Flowering occurs in September. It is only found in the
Bungonia National Park south east of
Goulburn N.S.W where it grows on rocky, limestone outcrops and cliffs.[8][10][11]
^
abcHarden, G.T.
"Pimelea axiflora". PlantNET-NSW FLORA ONLINE. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
^Rye, Barbara L. (1990). George, Alex (ed.). Flora of Australia Volume 18 Podostemaceae to Combretaceae. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. p. 153.
ISBN0644104724.
^"Pimelea axiflora". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
^
ab"Pimelea axiflora subsp. pubescens". NSW Threatened Species Online. NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
^"Pimelea axiflora subsp. axiflora". Threatened Species Section (2020). Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania. Retrieved 9 February 2020.