Pimelea ligustrina

Description

Pimelea ligustrina, commonly known as tall rice-flower, is a shrub species in the family Thymelaeaceae. It is endemic to south-eastern Australia. Plants have an erect habit, growing to between 1 and 3 metres in height. Leaves are 15 to 90 mm long and 7 to 20 mm wide. The flowers are clustered in groups, the heads surrounded by 4 or 8 bracts. These are followed by green to red-brown fruit. The species was first formally described in 1805 by French naturalist Jacques Labillardière in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen . Three subspecies are currently recognised: - P. ligustrina subsp. ciliata - P. ligustrina subsp. hypericina - P. ligustrina subsp. ligustrina It occurs in coastal areas and mountain ranges in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. It is a food plant for caterpillars of the yellow-spot blue.