220 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. | Thymelee. 
Nar. Ord. LXXV. THYMELE, Juss. 
Gen. I. PIMELEA, Banks et Sol. 
Perianthium. infundibuliforme; limbo 5-fido; fauce esquamata. Stamina 2, fauce inserta. Stylus 
lateralis; stigmate capitato. Wuv 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, and 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. Ovary (often hairy) one, with a lateral style and capitate stigma. Fruit a 
utriculus enclosed in the dry or baccate perianth. (Name, myueAy, fatness; from the oily seeds.) 
1. Pimelea Zongifolia, Banks et Sol; frutex erectus, ramosus, glaberrimus, foliis 1-2-pollicaribus 
1-1 unc. latis oppositis lineari-lanceolatis oblongisve acuminatis subtus glaucescentibus nervosis floralibus 
late ovatis v. conformibus, capitulis sessilibus multifloris sericeo-villosis, perianthii tubo limbo ter longiore, 
limbi laciniis oblongo-lanceolatis obtusis, staminibus exsertis, fructu parvo fundo perianthii incluso ovato- 
oblongo integumento atro-crustaceo. Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic. Smith in Rees's Cyclop. 
Haz. Northern Island and northern parts of the Middle Island. East coast, Banks and Solander, 
Colenso. Auckland, Sinclair. Nelson, Bidwill. 
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 1-13 inch across, nearly 3 inch long, with a slender very silky 
tube, and stamens and style protruded. 
2. Pimelea virgata, Vahl; fruticulus erectus, virgatus, ramis cicatricatis profunde striatis rufo-brun- 
neis, ramulis sericeis v. glabratis, foliis (2 unc.) subconfertis brevissime petiolatis lineari- v. oblongo-lanceo- 
latis 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 crustaceo fusco. Vahl, Enum. 
A. Rich. Flora. A. Cunn. Prodr. P. axillaris, Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic. P. pilosa, Fai. Passerina 
pilosa, Forst. Prodr. Banksia tomentosa, Forst. Gen. 
Has. 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, about 3 inch long, rarely an inch, generally glabrous above, sometimes below 
too, but often very silky with long hairs. Flowers + 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 brittle.—The longer leaves and 
larger flower are the best characters whereby to distinguish this from certain states of P. prostrata, which is often erect. 
3. Pimelea prostrata, Vahl; fruticulus polymorphus, procumbens v. prostratus, rarius erectus, ramis 
ascendentibus cicatricatis, ramulis foliisque sericeis glabratisve, foliis brevibus imbricatis v. remotis patulis 
recurvisve sepius decussatis brevissime petiolatis ovatis oblongis lanceolatisve rarius obovatis coriaceis 
planis concavis carinatisve integerrimis v. obscure denticulatis 3-4 unc. longis, capitulis parvis 6—8-floris, 
perianthii tubo dense sericeo limbi laciniis oblongis obtusis vix longiore, staminibus stylogue exsertis, fructu 
ssepius baccato. Vall. A. Rich. Flor. A. Cunn. Prodr. Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic, 
