Pimelea erecta

Pimelea erecta is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect, often spreading shrub with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and clusters of erect, white or pale pink flowers.

Pimelea erecta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Thymelaeaceae
Genus:	Pimelea
Species:	P. erecta
Binomial name
Pimelea erecta Rye[1]

Description

Pimelea erecta is an erect, often spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.3–1 m (1 ft 0 in – 3 ft 3 in) with a single glabrous, pale brown to greyish stem at ground level. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, elliptic to egg-shaped, 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long and 1.5–5 mm (0.059–0.197 in) wide on a petiole 0.4–1.0 mm (0.016–0.039 in) long. The flowers are arranged in clusters on a peduncle 1–8 mm (0.039–0.315 in) long with 8 or 10 involucral bracts 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) long and 1.3–4 mm (0.051–0.157 in) wide at the base, each flower on a hairy pedicel 0.1–0.2 mm (0.0039–0.0079 in) long. The flowers are white to pink, the flower tube 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and the sepals are egg-shaped, densely hairy outside and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long. The stamens and style extend beyond the end of the flower tube. Flowering occurs between July and March with a peak between October and January.^[2][3]

Taxonomy

Pimelea erecta was first formally described in 1988 by Barbara Lynette Rye and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia.^[3][4] The specific epithet (erecta) refers to the flowers and involucral bracts.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

This pimelea grows in sand or clay between the Ongerup and Israelite Bay in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.^[2][3]

Conservation status

Pimelea erecta is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.^[2]