Kunzea capitata

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Kunzea capitata
Myrtle flower purple Bairne Track.jpg
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Kunzea
Species:
K. capitata
Binomial name
Kunzea capitata
Synonyms

Metrosideros capitata Sm.

Kunzea capitata is a shrub species in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to New South Wales in Australia. [2]

Contents

Description

The species has a spreading or erect habit and may grow up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in height, but is usually within the range of 0.5–1 metre (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in). [3] Flowers are pink to purple, or occasionally white. These are produced on the branch ends in "heads". [2] Leaves are 3.5–9 millimetres (0.14–0.35 in) long and 1.5–4.5 millimetres (0.059–0.177 in) wide, with recurved tips and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) long petioles. [2]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by English botanist James Smith in 1797 in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London , and given the name Metrosideos capitata. [1] The species epithet capitata is derived from the Latin word caput (head), alluding to the arrangement of the flowers. [3]

It was transferred to the genus Kunzea in 1846 by German botanist Gustav Heynhold. [1]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in heathland and dry sclerophyll forest from the Ulladulla district northward to Richmond River. [2]

Cultivation

The species prefers a moist soil in a lightly shaded to sunny position. [3] It is readily propagated by either seed or cuttings. [3]

Related Research Articles

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Kunzea is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Australasia. They are shrubs, sometimes small trees and usually have small, crowded, rather aromatic leaves. The flowers are similar to those of plants in the genus Leptospermum but differ in having stamens that are longer than the petals. Most kunzeas are endemic to Western Australia but a few occur in eastern Australia and a few are found in New Zealand. The taxonomy of the genus is not settled and is complicated by the existence of a number of hybrids.

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<i>Kunzea ericifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Kunzea ambigua</i> Species of flowering plant

Kunzea ambigua, commonly known as white kunzea, poverty bush or tick bush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is found mainly on sandstone soils in eastern Australia. Growing up to 5 m (16 ft) high and wide, it bears small white flowers in spring. Used in native gardening, it attracts native insects. It is also used in amenities planting and sand dune stabilization.

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<i>Myoporum parvifolium</i> Species of plant

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<i>Kunzea</i> Badja Carpet

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<i>Conospermum caeruleum</i> Species of Australian shrub in the family Proteaceae

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<i>Styphelia viridis</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Persoonia terminalis</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kunzea capitata". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Kunzea capitata". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Kunzea capitata". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 20 February 2020.