Pimelea spinescens Rye

Species Identity and Growth Form

Pimelea spinescens Rye is a spreading, stunted, long-lived undershrub that usually reaches 5 to 30 centimeters (2.0 to 11.8 inches) in height.

Root and Stem Characteristics

It has a deep taproot, and its stems are hairless, turning spiny as they mature.

Leaf Morphology

The leaves are narrowly elliptic or elliptic, measuring 2 to 10 millimeters (0.079 to 0.394 inches) long and 1 to 3 millimeters (0.039 to 0.118 inches) wide.

Inflorescence and Bract Structure

Its flowers are arranged in clusters of 6 to 12, surrounded by 4 elliptic, stalkless, leaf-like involucral bracts that are 3 to 7 millimeters (0.12 to 0.28 inches) long and 1.5 to 4 millimeters (0.059 to 0.157 inches) wide.

Flower Sexual Traits and Color

Male and female flowers usually grow on separate plants, and flowers can be white, cream-colored, or yellow.

Flower Cluster Orientation

Clusters of male flowers grow upright, while clusters of female flowers droop.

Flower Part Dimensions

The flower tube is 1.5 to 3 millimeters (0.059 to 0.118 inches) long, the sepals are 1 to 2 millimeters (0.039 to 0.079 inches) long, and the stamens are shorter than the sepals.

Flowering Period

Flowering takes place in June and July.

Subspecies pubiflora Status and Habitat

Subspecies pubiflora was considered extinct because it had not been collected since 1901, but it was rediscovered in 1980 growing in grassy woodland in the Wimmera region of Victoria.

Subspecies spinescens Distribution and Habitat

Subspecies spinescens grows mainly in grassland and open shrubland in the area between Melbourne, Horsham and Echuca.