Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malvales
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Genus: Pimelea
Species: P carnosa
Scientific name: Pimelea carnosa
Common name: Pinatoro
Pimelea carnosa is recently described species of Pimelea (native daphne). It grows on open exposed coastal sites all around the North and the upper half of the South Islands. It grows on much of the Taranaki coast.
It has densely hairy young stems, fleshy glaucus leaves and pendent habit. The small flowers are creamy white in colour.
Pimelea carnosa and other Primelea species are the primary larval host plant of the local threatened moth Notoreas “Taranaki”.
Photos below are of a plant growing on a clay bank in exposed coastal conditions near Mokau, North Taranaki.
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