Pimelea spicata

Family Thymelaeaceae

Spiked Rice-flower

Slender, erect to decumbent shrub up to 50 cm high, with carrot-like taproot 24 mm diameter and 18 cm long. Longevity 20 - 30 years.

Flowers: White often tinged with pink, in heads. Thoughout the year after rainfall. Reported to be visited by native bees and moths.

Fruit: 1-seeded green nut 3 mm long.

Seed: Seed black, collected June, some dormancy. Soil stored seedbank.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Woodland habitat in partial shade to full sun.
• Localised in patches in woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden, 200 plants recorded in 2003.
• Resprouts from a tap root after fire.
• Listed as Endangered (Schedule 1) NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
• Coded 3ECi on national rare species list (ROTAP).

Reference

www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/PDFs/RecoveryPlans_draft_Pimelea_spicata.pdf