Pimelea mesoa subsp. mesoa
Last Modified: 1-6-2021 19:58
© Christopher Cookson License this image
Pimelea mesoa subsp. mesoa is a low growing mat plant in the Thymelaeaceae (daphne) family endemic to alpine basins in the top of the South Island, growing amongst montane tussock grasslands. The leaves are less than a centimetre long, about 2mm wide, and hairy underneath, and the small flowers are white. Habitat is the alpine basins and river flats within the Molesworth area through to the upper Wairau, and the upper reaches of several rivers in Canterbury to as far south as the Waimakiriri. Pimelea mesoa subsp. mesoa is one of 51 Pimelea species or subspecies endemic to New Zealand.
This example was observed in the Servern valley near Red Gate, a typical part of P. mesoa subs. mesoa's range, although in this area much of the indigenous grasses have been replaced with exotic pasture grasses.
Image Date: 4/4/2021
Photographer: Christopher Cookson
Location: Latitude: -42.132442 Longitude: 173.060577