Pimelea prostrata

Pimelea prostrata, commonly known as Strathmore weed, New Zealand Daphne, and Pinātoro (Māori) is a species of small shrub, of the family Thymelaeaceae. It is endemic to New Zealand and has small white flowers and blue green leaves.^[2][3]

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

Description

Pimelea prostrata is a low growing prostrate shrub. It has blue green leaves and small white flowers.^[1] Its stems range from 30 to 60 cm long, depending on the variety.^[4]

• Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata has 30cm long stems and yellowish-brown branchlets.

Classification

Pimelea prostrata has five subspecies:^[4]

• Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata
• Pimelea prostrata subsp. seismica
• Pimelea prostrata subsp. thermalis
• Pimelea prostrata subsp. ventosa
• Pimelea prostrata subsp. vulcanica

Etymology

Pimelea is the shortened version of the Greek: Pimeleoides, which means "resembling Pimelea," a genus in the family Thymelaeaceae, prostrata describes the way in which it grows; Prostrate lying flat on the ground.^[3]

Toxins

Like many species of Pimelea, it is poisonous to animals, particularly horses. It was originally used as a source of the toxin prostratin, which can serve as a tumor-inhibiting agent.^[2]