Pimelea linifolia, commonly known as slender rice flower[2] is a common, variable shrub widespread throughout eastern Australia. It has narrow leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and usually white flowers arranged in heads of seven or more on the ends of the stems, with four lance-shaped bracts at the base of the inflorescence. The plant may be toxic to livestock.
Pimelea linifolia is a variable shrub, sometimes prostrate, sometimes growing to a height of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) with glabrous stems. The leaves are glabrous, narrow egg-shaped to elliptic, 3–40 mm (0.12–1.57 in) long and 1–9 mm (0.039–0.354 in) wide. The flowers are white, sometimes pink, mostly 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long. They are arranged in heads of between seven and sixty on the ends of the stems, with four, sometimes eight bracts at the base. Some flowers are bisexual and others are female, the female flowers shorter. The bracts are sessile, lance-shaped to egg-shaped, 7–17 mm (0.28–0.67 in) long and 3–11 mm (0.12–0.43 in) wide. The fruit is green and 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy and namingEdit
Pimelea linifolia was first formally described in 1793 by James Edward Smith from a specimen that "flowered in the greenhouse of Lord Viscount Lewisham in February 1794".[6][7] The specific epithet (linifolia) strictly means "thread-like leaf" but is also used for "linear leaf".[8]
Distribution and habitatEdit
Slender rice flower is widespread and common in eastern Australia. It usually grows in wet forest, sometimes on the margin of rainforest. It occurs from north-east Queensland, through the eastern half of New South Wales, all but the far north-west of Victoria, the south-east of South Australia and throughout Tasmania.[2][3][4][5][9]
EcologyEdit
This plant is suspected of being poisonous to sheep, but the evidence is inconclusive.[9]
UsesEdit
The bark of P. linifolia can be processed into fine strong thread for catching the bogong moth (Agrotis infusa). This string, called a 'Bushman's bootlace', is produced by a traditional method that involves wetting, drying, beating and rolling the material.[10]
ReferencesEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pimelea linifolia.
Wikisource has original works on the topic: Pimelea linifolia
^"Pimelea linifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^ abcHarden, Gwen J. "Pimelea linifolia". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^ abRye, Barbara L. "Pimelea linifolia". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^ abEntwisle, Tim J. "Pimelea linifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^ ab"Pimelea linifolia". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^Smith, James Edward (1793). A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland. Lambeth: J. Sowerby. pp. 31–33. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
^Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 241. ISBN9780958034180.
^"2. Riceflower - Pimelea linifolia". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
August 29, 2023
pimelea, linifolia, commonly, known, slender, rice, flower, common, variable, shrub, widespread, throughout, eastern, australia, narrow, leaves, arranged, opposite, pairs, usually, white, flowers, arranged, heads, seven, more, ends, stems, with, four, lance, s. Pimelea linifolia commonly known as slender rice flower 2 is a common variable shrub widespread throughout eastern Australia It has narrow leaves arranged in opposite pairs and usually white flowers arranged in heads of seven or more on the ends of the stems with four lance shaped bracts at the base of the inflorescence The plant may be toxic to livestock Slender rice flowerPimelea linifolia growing near BurraScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalvalesFamily ThymelaeaceaeGenus PimeleaSpecies P linifoliaBinomial namePimelea linifoliaSm 1 Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy and naming 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Ecology 5 Uses 6 ReferencesDescription EditPimelea linifolia is a variable shrub sometimes prostrate sometimes growing to a height of 1 5 m 4 ft 11 in with glabrous stems The leaves are glabrous narrow egg shaped to elliptic 3 40 mm 0 12 1 57 in long and 1 9 mm 0 039 0 354 in wide The flowers are white sometimes pink mostly 10 20 mm 0 39 0 79 in long They are arranged in heads of between seven and sixty on the ends of the stems with four sometimes eight bracts at the base Some flowers are bisexual and others are female the female flowers shorter The bracts are sessile lance shaped to egg shaped 7 17 mm 0 28 0 67 in long and 3 11 mm 0 12 0 43 in wide The fruit is green and 3 5 mm 0 12 0 20 in long 2 3 4 5 Taxonomy and naming EditPimelea linifolia was first formally described in 1793 by James Edward Smith from a specimen that flowered in the greenhouse of Lord Viscount Lewisham in February 1794 6 7 The specific epithet linifolia strictly means thread like leaf but is also used for linear leaf 8 Distribution and habitat EditSlender rice flower is widespread and common in eastern Australia It usually grows in wet forest sometimes on the margin of rainforest It occurs from north east Queensland through the eastern half of New South Wales all but the far north west of Victoria the south east of South Australia and throughout Tasmania 2 3 4 5 9 Ecology EditThis plant is suspected of being poisonous to sheep but the evidence is inconclusive 9 Uses EditThe bark of P linifolia can be processed into fine strong thread for catching the bogong moth Agrotis infusa This string called a Bushman s bootlace is produced by a traditional method that involves wetting drying beating and rolling the material 10 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pimelea linifolia Wikisource has original works on the topic Pimelea linifolia Pimelea linifolia Australian Plant Census Retrieved 2 May 2019 a b c Harden Gwen J Pimelea linifolia Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Retrieved 2 May 2019 a b Rye Barbara L Pimelea linifolia Australian Biological Resources Study Department of the Environment and Energy Canberra Retrieved 2 May 2019 a b Entwisle Tim J Pimelea linifolia Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Retrieved 2 May 2019 a b Pimelea linifolia State Herbarium of South Australia Retrieved 2 May 2019 Pimelea linifolia APNI Retrieved 2 May 2019 Smith James Edward 1793 A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland Lambeth J Sowerby pp 31 33 Retrieved 2 May 2019 Sharr Francis Aubi George Alex 2019 Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings 3rd ed Kardinya WA Four Gables Press p 241 ISBN 9780958034180 a b F A Zich B P M Hyland T Whiffen R A Kerrigan 2020 Pimelea linifolia Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 RFK8 Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research CANBR Australian Government Retrieved 19 June 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint date and year link 2 Riceflower Pimelea linifolia Australian National Botanic Gardens Retrieved 2 May 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pimelea linifolia amp oldid 1153539287, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
